Anchored by a strong returning core including a nine-member senior class, the Emory University Women's Soccer team earned a NCAA Division III tournament berth in 2018, the first time an Eagles squad has qualified for the postseason since 2014.

Facing the 21^st toughest slate in all of Division III, Emory finished the year with an overall record of 14-5-1, and were 4-2-1 in one of the nation's toughest conferences, the University Athletic Association, placing third among the eight league teams. The 14 victories were the most since the 2013 unit notched 16 wins while all five defeats came to teams that reached the NCAA tournament.

Headlined by seven double-digit point gatherers, the Eagles featured the 86^th-best scoring offense in the country, averaging 2.4 goals per game. Junior Shivani Beall highlighted the offensive performers, totaling career-highs in both goals (9) and points (22) while setting a program single-season record with 44 shots on goal. Senior Madison Phaneuf and sophomores Samantha Hilsee and Caroline Moore all compiled a career-high 15 points with Phanuef and Hilsee ranking second behind Beall with six markers. Senior Abbe McCarter netted five goals, four of which acted as game-winners (a team-high), and four assists for 14 points. Junior Caroline Kolski and freshman Lindsey Breskow rounded out the double-digit point scorers as they each finished the year with 10 points.

On the defensive side of the ball, Emory ranked 62^nd in Division III with a 0.788 goals against-average and limited opposing teams to averages of 9.85 shots and 4.75 shots on goal per game. The Eagles' backline, on the strength of starters seniors Nikki Batt, Danielle Darius, junior Paige Santee and sophomore Lily Dresner, helped the team record nine shutouts over the course of the season while holding opposing foes to under five shots on goal on 12 different occasions. Goalkeeper Dani Staffin put forth a tremendous senior season, registering career-highs in goals-against average, saves and wins and ranked inside the top-100 among qualified DIII keepers in minutes played (72^nd), GAA (74^th) and save percentage (97^th).

The season began with three consecutive victories, all via shutouts over Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran and Oglethorpe, before dropping back-to-back 1-0 decisions to NCAA tournament-bound Rowan and Lynchburg. The Eagles rebounded with another three-game winning streak, toppling Thomas More, Piedmont and Huntingdon to head into the back half of the season with a 6-2 record.

After going toe-to-toe with top-ranked and eventual UAA champion Washington University-St. Louis on September 29^th (L, 2-1, in OT), the Eagles hit their stride, losing just once over the final nine regular season contests, posting a 7-1-1 record including five straight wins over No. 14/15 Brandeis (2-1), Covenant (4-0), Carnegie Mellon (1-0), Case Western Reserve (2-1) and Rochester (3-1) to close out the slate and secure one of the 20 "Pool C" at-large selections.

Emory was sent to the University of Lynchburg with an opening round regional pod featuring the host Hornets, Piedmont College and the Eagles' opening round opponents from Penn State-Berks. The first round matchup between the Eagles and the nation's highest scoring offense did not disappoint as the teams traded barbs for the entirety of the match with both sides combining for 45 shots, however, 90 minutes was not enough to decide a winner as the game went to overtime deadlocked at 0-0. Fortunately, the extra session was short-lived as McCarter found the back of the net just 2:07 into the first overtime period to give the Eagles their first NCAA tournament win since 2013.

The team's tournament run came to close the following afternoon, as the Eagles were edged by Lynchburg, 2-0, in the Round of 32. The Hornets broke the scoreless tie 37 minutes into the contest and were able to tack on another tally in the 88^th minute. The Eagles battled for the majority of the second half before seeing the Hornets put the game out of reach, controlling the majority of possession and outshooting U of L, 9-6, over the final 45 minutes.

Six Eagles were rewarded for the efforts with All-UAA recognition with Beall and Hilsee leading the contingent with First Team selections. Batt and Phaneuf each were tabbed to the Second Team while Dresner and Staffin were named Honorable Mentions.

Beall and Hilsee added postseason kudos as handed out by the United Soccer Coaches as the duo were named to the South Atlantic All-Region Team with Beall earning a spot on the First Team and Hilsee slotted on the Third Team. In addition, the Eagles saw 14 UAA All-Academic selections to go along with Beall adding more academic acclaim with her CoSIDA Academic All-District Team selection.

The Eagles earned the following honors during the 2018 season:

2018 Emory team leaders:

* - Denotes Emory Record

Emory in the final NCAA Division III statistical rankings (out of 433 ranked teams):

Eagles in the final NCAA Division III individual statistical rankings (top-200 players ranked):