Emory University junior Jennifer Grant scored her first goal of the season to give the team a lead in the second half, and the Eagles' defense recorded its fifth clean sheet of the campaign, as eighth-ranked Emory fought its way to a hard-earned 2-0 victory at the University of Chicago on Saturday.

With the win, Emory raised its record to 8-3-1 for the year and to 1-1-0 in University Athletic Association (UAA) matches.  The Eagles now have three points in conference play, and after two games, sit in sole possession of third place, three points behind Washington University (Mo.) and one back of Brandeis University.  Chicago, coming off a 1-1 tie against top-ranked Wheaton College (Ill.) earlier in the week, dropped to 7-3-2 overall on the year and to 0-1-1 in UAA matches.

Entering Saturday's match, the Eagles were facing the prospect of falling into an early hole in the conference standings, after losing to third-ranked Washington at home last weekend.  However, the Eagles pushed their way back to the upper half of the UAA standings, earning an elusive road victory in Chicago, a place where Emory has not won in five tries since a 3-1 victory during the 2001 campaign.

The two teams played to a scoreless first half, despite both teams having their chances.  Chicago opened the match strong, outshooting Emory 3-0 in the first eight minutes, including a pair of shots on goal.  However, the Eagles' defense would settle in from that point forward, holding the Maroons without a shot on goal for the remainder of the half, and to just four additional shots total.  Meanwhile, Emory would rally off 11 shots of its own during the final 37 minutes of the half, including four on goal, but would be unable to convert one for a score.

The Eagles would finally break through in the 52^nd minute, when Grant scored her first goal of the campaign.  After her initial shot on goal was saved by Chicago keeper Jacinda Reid, the junior midfielder collected her own rebound, and placed it into the back of the net, putting Emory on top 1-0.

Emory would add to its lead in the final seconds, when sophomore Jordan Morell notched her second goal of the campaign with just six seconds left to play in the contest, off junior Karina Rodriguez's team-leading fourth assist of the year.

The Eagles outshot the Maroons 28-10 in the game, including an 11-4 edge in shots on goal during the contest.

Sophomore goalkeeper Liz Arnold played the entirety of the game in goal, recording her second shutout of the year in the process.  She turned away all four shots on goal she faced during the game, improving to 7-2-1 with a 0.53 goals-against average and an .839 save percentage.

Also of note from Saturday's game was the start made by senior midfielder Clare Mullins, the 78^th of her career, to break the record of former Eagle Amy Williams (1994-97).  Mullins, who has started every Emory game during her career, is now just three games shy of the school record for games played.  She would finish the day with a game-high eight shots, matching her single-game career best.

The Eagles will continue UAA competition next weekend, when the squad returns home for games against New York University on Friday, October 18^th and Brandeis University on Sunday, October 20^th.