The Emory University Women's Soccer team returns home to face off against University Athletic Association opponents Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University. Kickoff is set for 5:00 pm against the Spartans on Friday evening followed by an 11:00 AM start time against the Tartans on Sunday.
Prior to start of the game on Sunday morning, the Eagles will have a special pregame ceremony to honor their two seniors – Cristina Ramirez and Hannah Meyer.
UAA Update
After falling to #15 Washington this past Saturday, Emory finds itself in a five-way tie for second place in the UAA standings at 1-1 with Chicago, WashU, Carnegie Mellon and Rochester, sitting one game behind first place and 2-0 Brandeis University.
On the UAA docket for Friday evening in addition to the Eagles versus the Spartans include: Brandeis at Chicago in a battle of NSCAA Top-15 programs, Carnegie Mellon at Rochester and NYU at Washington.
Emory University Eagles
Emory saw its season long five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, falling to the Bears by a score of 2-1. Freshman Morgan Brandewie scored the lone goal in the contest for the Eagles, cutting the deficit to one in the 62nd minute with the first tally of her career. Sophomore Jordan Doak assisted on the play, moving her into a tie for second on the team with three assists along with classmate Nikki Batt. Sophomore Dani Staffin made a career-high five saves in the defeat to give her 13 stops on the year.
Head Coach Sue Patberg remains just two wins shy of the 300-win milestone entering the weekend. She would become just the 53rd coach to eclipse that mark in NCAA history.
Case Western Reserve University Spartans
The Spartans begin play Friday evening at 5-4-3 overall on the season and are coming off a 4-0 defeat to Brandeis to fall to 0-1-1 in UAA play. Six different Spartans have registered at least one goal on the season led by senior Amy Lindberg who has scored a team-high five goals. Freshman Kimberly Chen is off to a strong start to her career, ranking second on the team with three goals to go along with two assists for eight points. Also notching at least two goals on the campaign for CWRU has been junior Neha Cheemalavagu and sophomore Melanie Kukura who have each netted two goals apiece. Cheemalavagu and classmate Ella Zadina headline the Case Western Reserve defensive efforts along with junior goalkeeper Sarah Newcomb. Newcomb has appeared in 12 contests, all starts, going 5-4-3 with two shutouts, a 1.16 GAA and has save a UAA-leading 44 shots while posting a .759 save percentage.
The Spartans are under the tutelage of Head Coach Tiffany Crooks who is in the midst of her 10th season with the program. Under Crooks, CWRU has posted 81-73-24 overall record.
#19 Carnegie Mellon University Tartans
Carnegie Mellon has gone 6-1-1 over their last eight games to enter the weekend 7-3-1 overall and venture to University of Rochester on Friday night. The Tartans knocked off #23 NYU their last time out to even their record in UAA play to 1-1 and with the victory, they moved back into the NSCAA Top-25 at the No.-19 position. Three different Tartans have registered double-digit point totals thus far in 2016, led by junior forward Haili Adams. In 11 games, Adams ranks tied for third among qualified UAA scorers with 15 points on the strength of six goals and three assists. Freshman Ryan Casey has also started her career on a strong note, posting four goals and four assists through her first 11 games. Junior Tori Iatarola is tied with Casey for the team lead in assists with four to go along with three markers for 10 points on the year. Junior Sarah Mahler has gone 5-0 in the past six games since taking over the starting goalkeeper role for Carnegie Mellon. In her six games between the posts, Mahler owns a 0.67 GAA and a .667 save percentage.
The Tartans are coached on the sidelines by Yon Struble who is in his seventh season with the team. During Struble's tenure, CMU has gone 80-28-10 and are coming off a Round of 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
All-Time Series
The Eagles have never lost to Case Western Reserve in 29 previous meetings, holding a 27-0-2 advantage all-time against the Spartans. Last season, the two programs played to 0-0 scoreless tie on CWRU's home turf.
Sunday marks the 26th meeting in the all-time series between Emory and Carnegie Mellon with the Eagles controlling the series with a 19-4-2 record over the Tartans. Emory suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the hands of CMU in last year's meeting as the Tartans scored with six seconds remaining in the second overtime period to earn a 1-0 victory.
Up Next
The Eagles will off for nine days before welcoming Brevard College to campus on Tuesday, October 25th in the final home game of the 2016 regular season. The game is set to get underway at the Woodruff PE Center at 6:00 pm eastern.