From Emory University Athletics
The Emory University Men's Soccer team is one win away from the NCAA Division III Final Four as the Eagles dispatched the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 2-1, Friday night at Stagg Field on the campus of the University of Chicago.
Seniors Michael Carragher and Christian Meyer provided the offense on Friday, propelling the Eagles to their second NCAA Quarterfinal appearance in program history and the first since 1988.
It will be an all University Athletic Association sectional final Saturday night as Emory will face the University of Chicago for a spot in the final four which will be held on December 1st in Greensboro, NC. Kickoff is slated for 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM CST. Earlier this season, the Eagles handed the Maroons their first loss of the season and only UAA blemish, defeating UC 3-0 in a game also played on Chicago's campus.
Within a span of two minutes and 11 seconds, Carragher and Meyer gave Emory all the offensive support it would need. First, Carragher put the Eagles on the scoreboard as he played a long pass into the six intended for classmate Jason McCartney. The pass was misplayed inside the box by the Crusader defense, bouncing in front of the keeper and into the back of the net.
Shortly after, Meyer doubled the Emory advantage as he registered his sixth goal of the year. Carragher sent a cross into the middle of the box where Meyer tapped it in on the sliding attempt.
Carragher nearly added an exclamation point to end the first half with a bullet from 20 yards out as the clock ticked towards zeroes but was denied by a great one-handed save by UMHB's Bryce Eichhorn.
Sophomore Corey Levine and junior Tyler Santee had Emory's best scoring chances in the second half as Levine had a shot from the near post stopped by Eichhorn in the 59th minute. In the 72nd minute, Santee let one rip from 40 yards out but another impressive diving save by Eichhorn kept the score at 2-0.
The Crusaders cut the deficit to one with 6:15 left to play in regulation as Case Carnes supplied a perfect pass into the six on a set piece where Logan Keeler knocked it past freshman Cole Gallagher.
The Eagles withheld heavy pressure from UMHB over the final minutes to hold on for the win. Emory finished the contest with a 14-7 margin in shots and a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
Both programs had to battle the elements as the night wore on as temperatures dipped into the low 40s with constant rainfall for the majority of the game.
Mary Hardin-Baylor finishes its season at 17-3-1 while Emory improves to 15-5-1 overall.