Emory University won the 2004 University Athletic Association (UAA) championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament.
The Eagles overcame several injuries and a 1-4 start en route to their best national finish since 2000. The Eagles faced a tough schedule from the start playing a nationally ranked Division III or NAIA team in the each of the first five games. In addition, Emory lost its top two goalkeepers to injuries.
The Eagles earned their first win defeating the No. 17 team in the nation in one of three wins this season over nationally ranked teams. With that win, Coach Michael Sabatelle won the 200th game of his Emory career. He and Assistant Coach Laura LeDuc were named Coaching Staff of the Year by the UAA.
After a loss to start conference play, the Eagles won their remaining six conference games, including two over nationally ranked teams, to grab the UAA title for the fourth time in history. As conference champions, the Eagles earned their eighth bid ever to the NCAA tournament.
The Eagles then finished the regular season by winning 11 of the last 13 games.
The Eagles won 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but fell to the No. 10 ranked team in the nation 1-0 in overtime in the second round (round of 32).
The Eagles scored first in 15 of 20 games, winning 13 of those games, and were 9-1 when leading at the half.
The defense posted nine shutouts. The Eagles have had at least nine shutouts every season since 1998. Their streak of five consecutive shutouts tied for fourth best in school history.
The following Eagles received post-season honors:
All-Conference (University Athletic Association) | ||
Lauren Hudak | First Team | Dunwoody, GA (Woodward Academy) |
Jenna Kereiakes | Second Team | Cincinnati, OH (Indian Hill) |
Nancy Wilson | Second Team | Mt. Pleasant, SC (Bishop England) |
Adrienne DeMarais | Honorable Mention | Shoreview, MN (Mounds Park Academy) |
Carrie Eckenhoff | Honorable Mention | Glencoe, IL (New Trier) |
Laurel O'Neal | Honorable Mention | Chapel Hill, NC (East Chapel Hill) |
Adrienne DeMarais
After scoring 20 points as a freshman, Adrienne DeMarais switched
from scoring goals to stopping them as a sophomore by filling in
after Emory's top two goalkeepers went were injured. DeMarais
became the Eagles' full-time keeper in the 10th game of the season,
and started by earning shutouts in her first five complete games in
the goal. She was 6-0 in conference play helping the Eagles to a
conference championship and earning honorable mention for the
all-conference team. In 11 games after becoming full-time goalie,
she posted a 0.44 goals against average, earned seven shutouts, and
had a 9-2 record. She was selected conference Athlete of the Week
on October 11 for her two shutouts the previous week, including one
against the No. 11 team in the nation. DeMarais' 0.55 goals against
average for the whole season ranks seventh in Emory history and her
seven shutouts is fourth in school history.
Carrie Eckenhoff
Senior Carrie Eckenhoff earned honorable mention for the
all-conference team. Eckenhoff ranked second on the team in goals
(6) and third in points (17) moving her into the top 12 at Emory
for the major career scoring categories. Eckenhoff is sixth in
career assists (21), 10th in career points (59), and 12th in career
goals (19). She scored two goals in a game twice this year, against
Piedmont (Ga.) and Oglethorpe (Ga.). Eckenhoff, who was a team
captain, started every game this season and played in all 78 of the
Eagles' matches during her career.
Jamie English
Freshman Jamie English led the team in points (20) and assists (8)
and tied for second in goals (6). She is the sixth Emory freshman
to lead her team in scoring. Her season ranks among the best
all-time for Emory freshmen, placing third in assists, 10th in
points, and 13th in goals. English was the only Eagle to score five
points in a game, scoring two goals and one assist against Wesleyan
(Ga.). She had two four-point games, scoring two goals against
Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a goal and two assists against Oglethorpe
(Ga.).
Lauren Hudak
After missing all of the previous season with a knee injury, Lauren
Hudak started every game this season and received first-team
all-conference honors. Hudak scored five goals this season. In
three consecutive "must-win" conference matches, Hudak scored the
game-winning goal, game-tying goal, and game-winning goal; the
latter two earned her conference Athlete of the Week honors for
November 1.
Jenna Kereiakes
Junior forward Jenna Kereiakes earned all-conference honors for the
second straight year, as she was named to the all-conference second
team. Kereiakes led the Eagles in goals (7) and was second in
points (18). She was one of four Eagles to score at least four
points in a game as she had a goal and two assists against Piedmont
(Ga.). Kereiakes continues to move up the Emory career
leaderboards, as she is sixth in career goals (28) and eighth in
career points (67).
Laurel O'Neal
For the second year in a row, sophomore defender Laurel O'Neal
received honorable mention in voting for the all-conference team.
O'Neal was a part of a clutch Emory defense that was 5-0 in
conference games decided by one goal and had nine shutouts this
season. O'Neal had four assists, including two in one game against
Wesleyan (Ga.), the first multiple-point game of her career. O'Neal
was the only defender to start every game this season.
Nancy Wilson
For the second year in a row Nancy Wilson was named to the
all-conference second team. She captained the Eagles' defense to
nine shutouts. Wilson and the defense were strong when in the lead
finishing with a 9-1 record when leading at the half and a 13-2
record when the Eagles scored the first goal. Wilson had eight
points and three goals this season, including the only goal in
Emory's 1-0 victory over Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) to clinch the
conference title.
Written by A.J. Gochenaur, Emory sports information assistant