Tenth-Ranked Emory Reaches Round of 16 with 2-1 Win over #7 Lynchburg
Eighth-Ranked Emory Reaches Round of 16 with 2-1 Win
over #11 Lynchburg
The eighth-ranked Emory University Women's Soccer Team
overcame an early deficit on Sunday to come from behind and defeat
11th-ranked Lynchburg College 2-1 in the second round of
the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships at the Woodruff
Physical Education Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Emory will advance to the round of 16 for the fourth-consecutive
season, and the 10th time overall in the program's
history. The Eagles will take on fourth-ranked Wheaton
College (Ill.) in the next round on Friday, November
22nd at a location and time to be determined late Sunday
night.
Emory improved to 16-3-1 overall with the win, the team's
ninth-straight and 14th in its last 15 games. The
Hornets' season came to a close with a 22-2-0 mark, with both
losses coming to the Eagles in Atlanta.
Lynchburg took the early lead in the game, taking
advantage of a free kick in the fifth minute of play. The
Hornets were awarded a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box
that senior Rachel Sadowski sent short and to her right to Jessie
Gonzalez. Gonzalez launch a low but hard shot on goal that
Emory goalkeeper Liz Arnold deflected, but could
not stop, as the ball found the back of the net for the goal.
It was the seventh goal of the season for Gonzalez.
Lynchburg continued to press the Eagles defense, taking the first
seven shots of the game and eight of the first nine, including an
attempt from freshman Erin Benson that hit off the crossbar in the
17th minute.
However, the Eagles would begin to settle into the game, and would
eventually tie the contest in the 30th minute of
play. The Eagles went on the attack, with senior
Kelly Costopoulos streaking down the far side of
the field. She made a quick pass to the middle of the pitch
to junior Charlotte Butker, who tapped the ball
back to junior Jennifer Grant. From 25-yard
out, Grant let an perfect shot go, well out of the reach of
Lynchburg keeper Tess Frelic and into the goal for her third score
of the season, knotting the match at 1-1.
In the 42nd minute, the Eagles would take advantage of
a penalty kick awarded to the team after a Lynchburg defender
pulled down freshman Cristina Ramirez on a scoring
opportunity inside the six-yard box. Senior Clare
Mullins was able to convert the resulting penalty kick
opportunity giving Emory a 2-1 lead with her third goal of the
campaign.
After the flurry of goals in the first half, both defenses would
settle in for the second frame, which proved to be a scoreless
one. Lynchburg would finish the contest with advantages of
15-10 in total shots and 6-4 in shots on goal, but would absorb the
loss nonetheless.
Emory goalkeeper Liz Arnold made four saves, and
improved to 15-2-1 for the season with the effort.
The Eagles will now turn their attention towards a familiar
opponent in the Wheaton Thunder, who they will meet in the NCAA
Championships for the third time in the last four years.
Emory advances on penalty kicks over Wheaton in the round of 16 in
2011, and defeated the Thunder 2-1 in the semifinals last
season.
Check back to NCAA.com or EmoryAthletics.com for more information
on the Eagles' round of 16 game with Wheaton when it is made
available.
