The Emory University women's soccer team, ranked 22nd in the nation, jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead over Illinois Wesleyan University, but could not hold the advantage, as the Eagles and the Titans played to a 2-2 double-overtime tie.
The Eagles struck quickly, as junior Meghan
McMahon notched her first goal of the season in the third
minute of the match. After junior Melanie
Levy broke away down the field, she made a perfect
crossing pass to McMahon, who hammered the ball into the back of
the net [click here to view the video of McMahon's goal].
Levy would tally a goal of her own 15 minutes later, set up by the
ball-handling skills of freshman Hailey
Morris. After breaking downfield with a defender
close by, Morris stopped just short of the end-line, allowing the
defender to pass her by and creating a passing lane to Levy.
Levy would finish the play to put the Eagles up 2-0, a lead they
would carry into halftime.
It would be a different story in the second half, however, as
Illinois Wesleyan would quickly score two goals, one by Emily
Hinchman in the 47th minute, and the second by Carlie
Hoekstra in the 53rd to knot the match at two goals
apiece. Neither team would score again the rest of the
way.
Emory was forced to play the final 33 minutes of the match down one
player, after defender Alyssa Perez was issued a
double-yellow card, resulting in a red card and her ejection from
the game.
After outshooting the Titans four-to-three in the first half, the
Eagles were outshot 18-to-six the rest of the contest.
Illinois Wesleyan also took 12 corner kicks, compared to the
Eagles' three.
Junior goalkeeper Kirsten Baecher played all 110
minutes in goal for the second-consecutive game, making seven
saves.
Eagles will begin a five-game road trip this week, starting with a
contest against cross-town opponent Agnes Scott College on
Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
Game Notes:
The double-overtime draw was the second in as many games for both the Eagles and the Titans... This marks the first time in the last nine seasons that the Eagles have played in back-to-back tie games.