The Emory University women's soccer team's record-setting 2011 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday in the NCAA Round of 16, as the fifth-ranked Eagles suffered a 1-0 double overtime loss to 20th-ranked Williams College in Geneva, NY.
With the loss, Emory will end its season with an overall record of 17-1-2, matching the program record for wins in a season, originally set in 2001. The Eagles also set program records with 15 shutouts during the campaign, and a 0.24 goals-against average.
A hard-fought battle throughout, possession was dominated by Emory during the course of the game, as the Eagles took 27 shots, compared to just nine for Williams, and held an 11-4 edge in shots on goal.
Although the game was scoreless at the half, the Eagles controlled the majority of chances during the first frame, outshooting the Ephs 11-3, including a 4-2 edge in shots on goal in the period. Coming off the bench, freshman Emily Feldman was able to take a game-high five shots in the first half, two of which were on goal.
Emory goalkeeper Erica Stein played the first 45 minutes, making a pair of saves on long shots to keep Williams off the board.
The second half was more of the same, with the Eagles once again controlling the ball, taking 10 addition shots to just three for Williams, but once again were unable to score. Four of the Eagles' shots were on goal, compared to just one for the Ephs in the second frame.
The trend continued into overtime, where the Eagles outshot the Ephs 5-0 in the first overtime period. The Eagles had a strong chance in the 99th minute, after Feldman's blocked shot rolled loose, and was eventually claimed by Lauren Drosick, who launched a shot just high of the goal.
In the second overtime period, Emory was able to get on a breakaway in the 102nd minute, led by Merrill Bachouros. Williams goalkeeper Laura Wann came out to challenge Bachouros one-on-one, making a save on a point-blank shot and securing possession for the Ephs.
In the 107th minute, Williams' Haley Cook sent a corner kick into the box. After an initial shot from the Ephs' Brett Eisenhart was deflected by Emory keeper Kaele Leonard, Eisenhart was able to secure the rebound and score the game-winning 'golden goal' for the Ephs.
Despite making a pair of saves in the contest, Leonard took the loss, falling to 6-1-1 on the year. Wann made 11 saves en route to the win for Williams.
Williams, which raised its season record to 13-4-3 with the victory, will meet second-ranked William Smith College in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championships tomorrow at 1:00 PM in Geneva, NY.