4-0 start for Emory men

Emory sophomore keeper Abe Hannigan is 4-0 on the season. Emory Athletics photo

The Emory University defense recorded its second shutout of the 2013 campaign, and the Eagles received goals from freshman Darion Morgan and junior co-captain Dylan Price, as the men's soccer team rolled to a 2-0 win at Guilford College on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles' backline limited Guilford to five shots in the game, including just two on goal, en route to recording its second shutout in the last three contests. Led by the starting combination of center backs Matt Sherr and Noah Rosen, and outside backs Leo Ragazzo and Jeffrey Cochran, the Eagles defense has allowed a combined 21 shots through its first four games, including 10 on goal, while notching a .75 team goals-against average.

Sophomore goalkeeper Abe Hannigan played all 90 minutes to record his second individual shutout of the campaign, while improving to 4-0-0 on the season with a 0.76 goals-against average. He made a pair of saves in the effort, raising his season save percentage to .700.

The Eagles got on the board late in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute on the first goal of Morgan's career. After the Guilford defense initially cleared a long throw-in from Cochran to the middle of the field, Morgan collected the loose ball just inside the 18-yard box, and sent a shot past the Guilford keeper for the score.

Morgan, who also has a team-best three assists this season, is now second among Emory scorers with five points.

The Eagles finished the first half with strong advantages over the Quakers in shots (12-2), shots on goal (6-0) and corner kicks (3-0).

The score remained 1-0 for the majority of the second half, until Price struck late in the contest with an insurance goal.  The play was set up by a long pass from Cochran, leading Price down the middle of the field on a breakaway, past the Quakers' defense.  One-on-one with the keeper, Price made a quick move to create an open path to the net, and sent a low shot into the back corner for the late goal.  Rosen picked up his first assist of the season on the play and the second of his career.

Price has now scored in each of the first four Emory games this season, and leads all Eagle scorers with five goals and 11 points.  The goal was the 24th of the junior's career, moving him into a tie with Karl Dix for 18th place in program history.

Emory's offensive attack ended the game with 21 shots, nine of which were on goal.

The Eagles now stand at 4-0-0 on the season, marking the 13th time in school history that the team has opened a season with four-straight victories.  Guilford dropped to 1-2-1 on the campaign with the loss.

Emory will complete its three-game road swing on Thursday, September 12th when the squad will make the short trip across town to Oglethorpe University for a 4:00 PM matchup with the Stormy Petrels.