The eighth-ranked Emory University Eagles will travel to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas for the next two rounds of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships on Friday, November 22^nd and Saturday, November 23^rd.  The Eagles will take on the fourth-ranked Thunder of Wheaton College (Ill.) on Friday at 8:30 PM ET, with the winning team advancing to the quarterfinal match on Saturday at 6:00 PM ET.

Coverage
The official tournament website is http://trinitytigers.com/sports/wsoc/2013-14/NCAA_Playoff.  For all three matches during the weekend, live statistics can be accessed at http://trinity.edu/departments/athletics/WSoccer/livestats/xlive.htm, while live video will be available at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/trinitytigers.portal#.

Emory Eagles
This is Emory's 15^th NCAA Tournament berth and its fourth-straight year qualifying for the NCAA Championships, matching the longest streak in the program's history, also achieved from 1995-98.  The squad received entry to the tournament via a 'Pool C' at-large bid, after finishing second in the University Athletic Association (UAA).  The Eagles have reached as far as the NCAA Championship game last season, and have made the round of 16 ten times, including each of the last four season, also a program-best sterak.  Emory is 16-12-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament games, including a 13-6-2 mark under current Head Coach Sue Patberg.

The Eagles will enter the weekend as one of the hottest teams in the country, winning 14 of the last 15 games and a season-best nine-straight games, improving to 16-3-1 overall this season and a 7-2-1 road mark in 2013.  Emory was ranked eighth in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA D-III Women's Soccer National Poll and 10^th in the D3Soccer.com poll, and was tied for first in the South Atlantic Region.  The team has outscored its opponents 48-11 this season, and ranks 22^nd among Division III teams with a 0.538 team goals against average and 80^th with 2.4 goals per game.

Leading the way for the Eagles offensively has been junior Karina Rodriguez, who has scored six goals and assisted on seven other during the year for 19 points.  Sophomore Jordan Morell, senior captain Kelly Costopoulos, freshman Cristina Ramirez, junior Charlotte Butker and junior Emily Feldman have each added on five goals for Emory during the campaign.  Defensively, the team has been led by reigning D3Soccer.com Defender of the Year Lauren Gorodetsky, who, along with fellow backs Lauren Drosick, Ally Peterson, Hannah Meyer, Kaelyn Lucas and Caitlin Clark, has helped Emory outshoot opposing teams 459-165 this season, including a 212-62 edge in shots on goal.  Sophomore goalkeeper Liz Arnold has a 15-2-1 record with six individual shutouts this season, ranking 14^th among D-III players with a 0.435 goals-against average and 48^th with .854 save percentage.

Emory is led by ninth-year Head Coach Sue Patberg, who has guided the Eagles to an NCAA Tournament berth on seven different occasions, reaching the round of 16 four times and the quarterfinals twice, culminating with last season's runner-up finish.  Patberg has a record of 126-27-26 at Emory, good for a .777 winning percentage, and a career ledger of 272-115-44, which includes head coaching stints at Georgia and Minnesota.  She is assisted by Associate Coach Rachel Moreland, now in her sixth season at Emory, and third-year Goalkeeper Coach Mike Wentzler.

Wheaton Thunder
Wheaton entered the tournament ranked fourth in the NSCAA poll and sixth in the D3Soccer.com poll, with an overall record of 19-1-2, including an 8-1-1 mark away from home.  The Thunder, making their 17^th tournament appearance, earned an automatic bid to the field by winning the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title, and claimed a 4-0 win over Webster in the first round, and a 3-2 victory over Loras in the second.

The Thunder have outscored their opponents 56-14 this season, ranking 67^th among Division III teams with 2.55 goals per game and 31^st with a 0.621 team goals-against average.  Senior Leah DeMoss leads Wheaton's offense with 31 points this season (coming on 10 goals and 11 assists), while junior Bailey Wysocki has a team-best 11 goals.  Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Graham ranks 15^th among D-III keepers with a 0.878 save percentage and 40^th with a 0.50 goals-against average, while senior Amanda Brait and junior Alexa Sharkey have helped anchor the Wheaton defense.

Wheaton is led by Head Coach Pete Felske, who has compiled a 426-100-30 record during his 26-year career, the entirety of which has been spent with the Thunder.  His win total is the seventh-highest mark in the history of NCAA Women's Soccer (all divisions), and fourth all-time among Division III coaches.  Felske is assisted by goalkeeper coach Cesar Gomez and Jen Binger.

Emory and Wheaton will be facing each other for the third time in the last four NCAA Tournaments, with the Eagles advancing after each of the previous two meetings.  In 2010, the two teams also met on a neutral site in the round of 16, with Emory advancing on a shootout, 9-8, after a 1-1 double-overtime tie.  Last season, in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships, Emory defeated Wheaton 2-1 behind second half goals from Feldman and Gorodetsky.  Emory is 1-1-1 all-time against Wheaton, with all three of the previous matchups taking place on a neutral site.

Trinity Tigers
Trinity is currently ranked second in the NSCAA poll and fourth in the D3Soccer.com poll with a 22-0-2 overall record and a 12-0-0 mark at home.  The Tigers are making their 22^nd NCAA appearance, earning their bid after winning the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.  The team defeated Augustana 3-1 in the first round, and advanced to the round of 16 with a 5-4 shootout win over 20^th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan after a 1-1 tie.

The Tigers have been one of the best overall teams statistically in Division III this season, as the squad is currently the top-ranked offensive squad in the country with 4.92 goals per game and sixth with a 0.328 goals-against average.  Led by junior Emily Jorgens, who leads all D-III players with 28 assists, along with junior Kelsey Falcone (20 goals) and senior Shelby Guenthardt (17 goals), the Tigers' offense has registered 117 goals during the campaign.  Junior goalkeeper Devan Osegueda currently ranks 10^th in Division III with a 0.402 goals-against average, and the defense has been anchored by senior Jennifer White, who was named the SCAC's Defensive Player of the Year.

Trinity is coached by Lance Key, who is now in his 10^th season at the team's helm, and has a career record of 165-18-13, all with the Tigers.  He is assisted by Owen Collie and goalkeeper coach Juan Lamadrid.

Although the two teams have not met since the 2002 season, Emory and Trinity have a long history with each other, including four meetings during the NCAA Championships.  Emory is 1-6-2 all-time against the Tigers, and 0-2-2 in NCAA Tournament play.  Three of the all-time meeting have gone into overtime, including two NCAA Tournament matches that were decided on penalty kicks, with the Eagles advancing 9-8 in a shootout in 1998, and falling 3-1 in 2000.  Emory is 0-3-0 all-time in road games played at Trinity.

Montclair St. Red Hawks
Montclair State entered tournament play ranked fifth in the NSCAA poll and second in the D3Soccer.com rankings, going 20-0-1 with an 8-0-0 mark away from home.  The Red Hawks qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time, earning an at large bid after finishing as the runners-up in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships.  The squad reached the round of 16 after edging Colby-Sawyer 1-0 in the first round, and then rolled to a 7-0 win over Bowdoin in the second round.

Montclair State has been the best defense in the country this season, surrendering just two goals during the year, good for a 0.094 goals against average.  Junior goalkeeper Gina Policastro is the top-ranked keeper in Division III this season with a 0.108 GAA and a 0.953 save percentage this season, while the defense has been led by juniors Jessica Bonjione, Melissa Koster and Jessica Rudd, and senior Allison Wacker.  The offense, ranked 13^th in Division III with 3.52 goals per game, has been paced by the trio of Kaila Fasano (11 goals, eight assists), Jessica Kiniery (10 goals, four assists), and Melanie Greco (10 goals, three assists).

The Red Hawks are led by Head Coach Patrick Naughter, who is now in his fourth season with the team and has a career ledger of 56-15-9.  He is assisted by Chris Owen, Pam Kopfensteiner, Ollie Gough and Brittany Casares.

Emory and Montclair State have met just once before, with the Eagles defeating the Red Hawks 8-0 at the Woodruff P.E. Center on September 6, 1998.

Emory Notes
Emory's Emily Feldman and Hannah Meyer were named the UAA's Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week, respectively, after their performances against Piedmont and 11^th-ranked Lynchburg last weekend… Feldman's three tournament goals this season are currently tied for the 2013 NCAA postseason lead… The Eagles' eight goals over their two tournament games are also tied for the best in Division III… Feldman is also the Eagles' all-time leader in postseason goals with seven over her career… Charlotte Butker is tied with former Eagle Megan McMahon (2007-10) with two career game-winning goals in NCAA Tournament play… Kelly Costopoulos and Clare Mullins each have four career NCAA Tournament assists, a program-best mark… Karina Rodriguez's seven assists this season are the 129^th-most in Division III this season… Emory is 1-3-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament games played in Texas, including a 1-2-0 mark in games played in San Antonio.