No. 22 Emory Women’s Soccer Travels to Lee for its Season Opener
The Emory University women's soccer team, ranked 22nd
in the NSCAA NCAA Division III preseason poll, will open its 2009
campaign on Wednesday, September 2nd at Lee University,
the top-ranked NAIA team. The match is slated to start at
7:00 PM in Cleveland, TN.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the history
of the program. Last season, Lee went 24-1-1 and won the NAIA
championship. The Lady Flames are 1-1-0 to start the 2009
campaign.
The Emory University women's soccer team will look for its
third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 after
advancing to the second round of the tournament in 2008. The
Eagles won the fifth UAA Championship in the program's history last
season, tying Washington University (Mo.) for the crown and
finishing with a 16-4-1 record overall. However, Emory will
have to overcome the loss of nine seniors, including two-time
all-American defender Grace Lam, and UAA Player of
the Year Whitney Briggs.
All-UAA honorable mention, senior midfielder Talia
Dweck, returns for Emory, in addition to last year's
leading scorer, senior Shayna Bryan (eight goals
and three assists in 2008). Rising juniors Melanie
Levy (midfield), Emily Rubin (defense),
and Lauren Smith (forward), each played in every
game for the Eagles last season, and will look to be major factors
in the squad's success again in 2009.
Head Coach Sue Patberg returns for her fifth
season at the Eagles' helm, having led the team to three NCAA
Tournament appearances and a 54-14-7 record in her previous four
seasons. She is assisted by Rachel Moreland
and Emily Fedeles.
Emory will begin the season ranked 22nd in the NSCAA
National Pre-Season Division III Poll. The Eagles were picked
to finish fourth in the University Athletic Association, according
to the preseason coaches' poll.
After kicking off its season on Wednesday, the Eagles will host Maryville College (Tenn.) and Illinois Wesleyan University during the annual Emory round robin on September 5th and 6th. Emory will begin UAA competition at home on Sunday, October 4th against eighth-ranked Washington University (Mo.). The Eagles will also travel to Chicago to take on the UAA-favorite and 16th-ranked University of Chicago.
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