Darcy Cunningham's game-winning goal in the 95th minute gave the top-ranked Washington University Bears a 2-1 overtime victory over the 24th-ranked Emory University Women's Soccer team Saturday afternoon in the University Athletic Association opener played at Francis Field in St. Louis, MO.
Cunningham curled in the game winner off a corner kick in the fifth minute of the first extra period to give the Bears the win. The victory moved WashU to 10-0 on the season while the Eagles slip to 6-3.
The Eagles defense fought hard as the Bears were on the offensive for the majority of the game, finishing with a 34-6 advantage in shots including a 15-2 mark in shots on goal. Senior Dani Staffin was terrific in the defeat, making a career-high 13 saves including several impressive diving stops. The 13 saves were the most by an Emory goalkeeper since Kirsten Baecher recorded 12 saves on September 2nd, 2009 and are tied for the ninth most by an Eagle in a game in program history.
Cunningham's game-winner was her second of the game as she led off the scoring in the 25th minute. Jessica Kovach supplied her with a ball through traffic before Cunningham was able to deposit a shot past Staffin to the far corner of the net.
Emory answered in the 38th by taking advantage of a WashU defensive miscue. Sophomore Jordan Fitzgerald corralled the loose ball off the Bears' turnover and fired a shot from 22 yards out to even the score at 1-1.
Emory will take on in-state foe Berry College Tuesday night before returning to conference play next Saturday against No. 3 Chicago. Both games will be played at the Woodruff PE Center.