Two penalty kicks were the difference Saturday afternoon as the No. 17 ranked Emory University men's soccer team fell to the University of Rochester in double overtime, 2-1, at Fauver Stadium in Rochester, NY.
Both programs end the regular season with a 9-3-4 overall record with the Eagles finishing fourth in the UAA standings with a 3-2-2 conference mark. Rochester finishes sixth in the conference table at 3-3-1.
The Yellowjackets' Andrew Moglianesi converted both of his penalty kick opportunities to give Rochester the one-goal victory. He first gave UR the lead in the 20th minute of the opening half. Rochester's Tony Hypsher was pulled down by a defender inside the box, allowing Monglianesi to convert from the penalty spot.
The Eagles had a couple of chances to tie it in the last 10 minutes of the half. Junior Joe Beare fired from distance on left wing, but the shot carried over the crossbar with nine minutes left. Two minutes later, senior Ethan Cohen served a ball from right wing to junior Madison Conduah who deflected it over the crossbar.
It was Cohen that found the equalizer, scoring the tying goal before the second half was two minutes old. Junior Matthew Tanzer took a corner kick from the right corner. As he hit it, Cohen flashed to the near post and headed it quickly into the upper right corner before UR goalkeeper could react.
The Eagles saw several chances to win the contest with the first coming eight minutes after the equalizer. A rush down the right touchline found senior Max Mehlman running down the middle but his shot hit the crossbar and was eventually hoisted out of trouble.
In the 78th minute, Emory had an untypical chance to break the tie. With the penalty area crowded with jerseys from both sides, the ball came into the center. Rochester's keeper Lupica-Tondo was ruled to have covered the ball beneath him, resulting in an indirect free kick being awarded from just outside the edge of the crease. All the Rochester players crowded along the goal line to shut off as much as possible in a clear look at goal. Senior Will Tichy tapped the ball to Cohen whose rising shot was blocked by the Yellowjacket wall.
Senior Josh Berman had the Eagles' best chance to win in the overtime session as he headed a free kick off the boot of junior Alejandro Gomez but his attempt drilled the woodwork.
The winning penalty kick was awarded with a shade under three minutes remaining in the second overtime period as an Emory defender was ruled to have had a handball inside the box. Senior Jack Hudson guessed right on Moglianesi's attempt but was unable to get there in time to make the save.
The Eagles now wait to find out their NCAA postseason fate as the tournament bracket will be announced at 1:30 PM Monday afternoon on NCAA.com.