The Emory University women’s soccer team completed a historic campaign during the 2011 season, recording the first undefeated season in Emory Athletics history, winning the program’s sixth University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, and matching the team record for wins in a single season with a 17-1-2 record.

Sporting one of the top defenses among NCAA Division III teams, the Eagles consistently stifled their opponents’ attack during the year, allowing just five goals for a program-record 0.24 goals-against average, the third-best mark in the Nation.  Emory also set a new high-water mark for the program with 16 shutouts during the year, and matched a team record with seven-straight shutouts from September 10^th – 28^th.  The Eagles’ 0.8 shutout percentage ranked third among Division III teams in 2011.

Offensively, Emory’s 48 goals during the year were the seventh-highest most in the program’s history and the most scored by the team since 2001.  The Eagles also totaled 139 points during the year, the 10^th-highest total in the program’s history.  Emory finished the year ranked 80^th among Division III teams with 2.4 goals per game.

The Eagles advanced to their second-straight NCAA Tournament and fifth in seven years under head coach Sue Patberg by winning the UAA Championship for the first time since the 2008 season, and outright for the first time since 2004.  Emory went 6-0-1 in conference play during the year, becoming the first team to go undefeated in UAA action since the 2006 season.

Hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Championships at the Woodruff Physical Education Center, the Eagles cruised through games against Piedmont College and 24^th-ranked Centre College, winning 3-0 and 2-0, respectively.  Emory’s Merrill Bachouros scored three goals during the two games, including two against Piedmont in the first round, matching the school’s career record for NCAA Tournament goals, and the Eagles’ defense allowed a combined four shots, only one of which was on goal, during the first two rounds of Championship play.

However, the Eagles tournament run would come to an end in the round of 16 in Geneva, NY, as Emory suffered a heartbreaking double-overtime 1-0 loss to 11^th-ranked Williams College.  Despite outshooting the Ephs 27-9 in the game, including an 11-5 edge in shots on goal, the Eagles were unable to score, suffering their first and only loss of the 2011 campaign.  

During the regular season, Emory recorded separate winning streaks of seven and nine games.  The Eagles finished the year with a 4-1-0 record against teams ranked in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Final Poll.

Sophomore center back Lauren Gorodetsky was named to the all-America second team for the second-consecutive season after leading the Eagles’ defense to its record-setting campaign.  Gorodetsky was the key piece in the Emory backline that limited opponents to 6.35 shots per game and 2.6 shots on goal per game.  Of the five goals allowed by the Eagles during the year, two were on penalty kicks.  Gorodetsky became just the fifth repeat all-American in the history of the Emory women’s soccer program.

Gorodetsky was also named the UAA’s Most Valuable Player, becoming the fourth player in the program’s history to claim the honor.  She and sophomore center midfielder Clare Mullins were also named to the all-UAA first team, while junior Lee Bachouros, freshman Charlotte Butker, senior Caroline Coates, freshman Sarah Kuehl and junior Kaele Leonard were named all-conference honorable mentions.  Earned all-South Atlantic Region recognition were Gorodetsky (first team), Mullins (first team), Leonard (second team) and junior Merrill Bachouros (third team).  Patberg was named the NSCAA/ Mondo Atlantic South Region Coach of the Year.

Leonard teamed with junior Erica Stein in goal throughout the season, combining for a .904 save percentage, the fifth-lowest among Division III teams.  Leonard finished the year ranked third among Division III players with a 0.288 goals-against average and sixth-with a 0.909 save percentage.  While Stein did not qualify for the national rankings, she was able to set a school record with a 0.20 goals-against average.

The team was also recognized for its academic success during the season, receiving the NSCAA Team Academic Award, in addition to having four players – sophomore Kelly Costopoulos, Gorodetsky, junior Ashley Kaiser and Stein – named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team.

The Eagles earned the following honors during the 2011 season:

Emory in the Final NCAA Division III Team Statistical Rankings:

Eagles in the Final NCAA Division III Individual Statistical Rankings: