The 2017 season proved to be a historic year for the Emory University Men's Soccer team as the Eagles made a deep run into the NCAA Division III tournament, reaching the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history, joining only the 1988 squad to accomplish the feat.

Led by a strong veteran presence including Third-Team All-America selection Jason McCartney, Interim Head Coach Cory Greiner guided the Eagles to a 15-5-2 overall record while facing the fourth toughest schedule in Division III according to the Massey Ratings, and was ranked eighth in the final United Soccer Coaches National Rankings, the highest-ever position an Emory team has finished in the poll.

The Eagles faced a program-record eight teams ranked inside the top-25, going 4-2-2 in such games. Emory posted a 4-2-1 record to finish tied for third in the nation's strongest conference, the University Athletic Association. The UAA saw four teams qualify and advance to the Round of Eight in 2017, a feat believed to be the first time a single conference among the Division III ranks had four teams reach the national quarterfinals in the same men's tournament.

After finishing the regular season 12-5-1, the Eagles were chosen as one of the 19 Pool C At-Large selections and proceeded to go 3-0-1 in the NCAA Tournament, the best tournament run in program history.

Emory opened the regional rounds of postseason play in Lynchburg, VA, facing Dickinson College in the first round. McCartney and classmate Christian Meyer supplied the Eagles with three first half goals en route to the 3-1 victory. The next day, junior Moustafa Khattab broke a scoreless tie with his game-winner in the 72^nd minute against No.-14 Lynchburg, sending Emory onto the second weekend for the first time since 2008.

The Eagles ventured to a familiar place, Chicago, IL, for the sectional rounds, squaring off against Mary Hardin-Baylor in the Sweet 16. Meyer and fellow senior Michael Carragher accounted for the scoring, netting both goals within a 2:11 span early in the first half. The Eagles withheld a furious last ditch effort by the Crusaders over the final minutes, advancing with the 2-1 victory and to within one win from the Final Four.

Emory would meet conference foe, the University of Chicago, in the quarterfinals with a berth to Greensboro, N.C. on the line. The game was a rematch of one of the Eagles' finest victories of the season as Emory stunned the then-ranked No.-1 Maroons, 3-0, on October 7^th, handing UC its first regular season defeat in 29 contests. The win was the first for the Eagles against a top-ranked team in program history and the second-ever against an opponent ranked inside the top-five.

In the Elite Eight, Chicago jumped out to an early lead as UAA Most Valuable Player Max Lopez found the back of the net in the 10^th minute of play. The score remained 1-0 until Carragher recorded the equalizer in the 48^th minute. The goal gave Carragher five points (2G, 1A) in the NCAA Tournament, a mark that represents the second most ever in a single NCAA Tournament in team history, trailing only Scott Cahoon's six points (3G, 0A) during Emory's 1988 tournament run.

The score stayed deadlocked at one through the remaining minutes of regulation and overtime periods thanks to the strong play of freshman goalkeeper Cole Gallagher and the Eagles backline, forcing Emory and the Maroons to decide the winner on penalty kicks.

Both teams traded opening salvos to begin the shootout but Chicago moved ahead in the second frame as Khattab was denied on his opportunity by UC's Aaron Katsimpalis. Carragher and junior Tyler Santee kept the Eagles' hopes alive with a successful conversions to make it 4-3 after four rounds but Chicago's Dayo Adeosun netted the clincher in the fifth round, ending the Eagles' historic NCAA tournament run.

Emory's 2017 campaign opened in early September with back-to-back shutouts over NC Wesleyan and Pacific Lutheran as the Eagles captured the Sonny Carter Invitational crown for the first time since 2014 and 10^th time overall. Senior Cody Gardiner, the tournament's MVP, lead a contingent of five Eagles named to the All-Tournament team which included McCartney, Santee, Khattab and senior Adam Ferguson.

After a two-game set back in Lexington, VA against No.-24 Washington & Lee and Randolph College, the Eagles rattled off a season-long winning streak of eight games which included victories over UAA foes No.-16 Washington University in St. Louis, the aforementioned Maroons and New York University to improve to 10-2 and first place in the UAA after three conference games.

Emory stumbled a bit down the stretch, posting a 1-3-1 record with defeats to Brandeis and Case Western Reserve, both in overtime, setting up a must-win matchup against the University of Rochester in the season finale on November 4^th. The Eagles and Yellowjackets traded blows for 90 minutes of action, heading into overtime with the score tied at 2-2. Emory needed just 4:28 minutes in the first extra session to find the game-winner as Meyer unleashed a missile from the top right corner of the 18 to send the Eagles onto the NCAA tournament.

McCartney and Khattab highlighted four Eagles on the All-UAA team as the duo garnered First Team honors. The tandem were the first pair of teammates to finish the season with at least 20 points since 2012. McCartney led all scorers with a career-high 13 goals and 29 points while Khattab registered 20 points on eight goals and four assists, all career-bests, and led the team with five game-winning scores. Santee and classmate Aidan Datené each were named to the Second Team after anchoring a defensive unit that recorded a 0.92 goals-against average with nine shutouts while limiting opponents to five shots on goal or fewer in 17 contests.

McCartney and Khattab added postseason honors as handed out by the United Soccer Coaches. McCartney was named to the All-South Atlantic Region First Team with Khattab earning a spot on the All-Region Second Team. In addition, McCartney was chosen as a Third Team All-American by the organization, becoming the 15^th player in program history to earn USC (formerly NSCAA) All-America honors.

A trio of Eagles garnered academic honors due to excellence in both the classroom and on the playing field. McCartney, Gardiner and senior Georges Daoud were named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team. Later, McCartney was honored as a CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team selection, becoming the first two-time Academic All-American in Emory Men's Soccer history and just the second player to be named a USC/NSCAA All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American in the same season.

The Eagles see a talented senior class featuring Carragher, Daoud, Ferguson, Gardiner, Meyer and McCartney depart due to graduation but with a strong returning core in place, Emory looks to build on its NCAA Tournament success when the 2018 season gets underway next fall.

The Eagles earned the following honors during the 2017 season: 

2017 Emory team leaders:

Emory in the final NCAA Division III statistical rankings (out of 417 ranked teams):

Eagles in the final NCAA Division III individual statistical rankings (top-200 players ranked):