The top-ranked Emory University women's soccer team wrapped up its home season in impressive fashion on Thursday night, battling the Lee University Lady Flames, ranked second in the NAIA, to a 1-1 double overtime tie at the Woodruff Physical Education Center.
The game was a hard-fought battle throughout, with the Eagles facing off against a team that has won four straight NAIA Championships, and has lost just eight games over the last five seasons. Emory proved that it could not only keep pace, but at times control the flow of the game against a roster that featured seven international players and four transfers from Division I colleges. The Eagles finished the game with an impressive 22-12 edge in total shots, and a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal.
Despite the Lady Flames pushing the pace of the game early, it would be the Eagles who would come away with the quick goal in the game. In the ninth minute of play, sophomore Charlotte Butker sent a long cross into the six-yard box that took a high bounce, allowing sophomore Emily Feldman to nudge it past Lee's keeper to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. It was the fourth goal of the season for Feldman, and the team-leading ninth assist of the season for Butker.
Lee continued to apply pressure to the Emory defense, but the Eagles were able to respond, as goalkeeper Erica Stein matched her season best with four saves in the first half. However, the Lady Flame's fifth shot of the half would prove to be the equalizer, as Caroline Scales went on a run down the far side of the field after a pass from Ashley Aragona, cutting into the box and sending a ground shot from a bad angle past Stein to even the score at 1-1. It was Scales' second goal of the season, while Aragona earned her fifth assist on the play.
The first half finished with both teams even in shots with six apiece, although Lee held a 5-2 edge in shots on goal at the end of the first 45 minutes of play.
Emory immediately shifted the momentum in the second half, and began to control possession while attacking the Lee defense. Emory allowed just one shot on goal to the Lady Flames the remainder of the game, while the Eagles were able to take 12 total shots, compared to just three for Lee, in the second half alone.
In the 50th minute, junior Clare Mullins took a shot on goal off free kick from about 30-yard out that was saved by Lee keeper, Leah Wilson, and deflected towards Butker, whose the follow-up shot was also saved. Emory also had a strong chance in the 79th minute, when Butker took a header off a Greta Jochmann corner kick that went off the crossbar. Junior Lauren Gorodetsky followed with a header of her own, but Wilson was able to make another save to preserve the tie.
After a quiet first overtime, during which Lee took the only shot, Emory held a 4-2 advantage in shots, including one on goal, but could not convert the game winner, as the contest ended in a tie after 110 minutes.
With the tie, Emory now stands at 10-0-4 on the season, while Lee's record moved to 11-1-1. The tie broke the Lady Flames' 10-game winning streak.
Emory will wrap up its 2012 regular season with four-straight road games, beginning with their final non-conference game of the regular season, a 7:00 PM matchup with Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA on Monday, October 22nd.
Emory Notes
Emory is now 1-1-1 all-time against Lee, including a 1-0-1 mark in games played at the WoodPEC… Of the Eagles' four ties this season, three have come against nationally-ranked opponents… The Eagles improved to 32-0-6 over their last 38 regular season games, and to 37-0-5 in their last 42 non-conference home games… Emory's current 24 game home winning streak overall is four shy of the program record… Feldman has now scored a goal in three-straight games for the Eagles, recording eight points (three goals and two assists) during the stretch… It is the second-longest stretch of games with a goal scored over her career, after she scored in four-straight contests from September 10th – 18th, 2011.