The 16^th-ranked Emory University women's soccer team opened up NCAA Division III Championship play on Saturday night with a 2-0 victory of DePauw University in first round action from Danville, Kentucky.

Emory struck early in the game, getting onto the board in the 25^th minute, when junior Veronica Romero sent a long shot from the far side of the field in between the DePauw defense and past the Tigers' keeper for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.  Romero now leads all Emory scorers this season with 20 points as well.

Emory's offense finished the first half of play with 17 shots, including six shots on goal.  Meanwhile the Eagles' defense held DePauw without a shot during the frame.

The Eagles' added to their lead early in the second half, taking advantage of a corner kick in the 48^th minute.  The kick, taken by senior Lee Bachouros, was headed inside the box by junior Lauren Gorodetsky to sophomore Emily Feldman, who was able to send a shot into the back of the net for the goal, extending Emory's advantage to 2-0.  It was Feldman's fifth goal of the season.

From that point forward, the Eagles' defense would take over, limiting the Tigers to just four shots the rest of the way, with senior goalkeeper Kaele Leonard saving all three attempts on goal.  Emory controlled possession throughout the game, finishing the contest with 29 shots and 16 shots on goal.

Romero and Feldman each finished with a game-high four shots, while Feldman and Kaelyn Lucas led all Eagles with three shots on goal.  Starting goalkeeper Erica Stein earned the victory in goal, improving to 7-0-1 this season.

Emory, now 12-1-6 this season, will advance to the second-round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships to take on seventh-ranked and host school Centre College, which stands at 20-1-0 for the year.  DePauw's season came to a close with a 7-11-1 record.

A full preview of Sunday's second-round game will be posted to EmoryAthletics.com shortly.

Emory Notes
The Eagles have now won at least one tournament game in each of their last nine trips to the NCAA Championships, and advanced each of the last 10 times they have been selected to the field… The program is now 11-11-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including an 8-5-1 record under Head Coach Sue Patberg… Emory's defense recorded its 11^th shutout in tournament history, seven of which have been under Patberg… The shutout was Emory's 12 of the season, and the team's fourth in the last five games… Romero's game-winning goal was her third of the season, the second-most by an Eagles' player in 2012… Her first-half goal broke up a streak of 405 consecutive minutes without a goal for Emory… All four University Athletic Association (UAA) women's soccer teams (Emory, Washington University, Carnegie Mellon and Brandeis) advanced with first-round victories on Saturday.