The Emory University men's soccer team was able to celebrate a University Athletic Association championship in front of its home fans for the second straight season as the Eagles defeated the University of Chicago, 4-2, Saturday afternoon in Atlanta.

In a matchup against the top two programs in the conference this season, Emory secured its second consecutive UAA Championship as well as the ninth conference crown in team history. This is the second time in program history the Eagles have won back-to-back UAA titles, having done so previously during the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

With one game remaining in the regular season and the automatic bid locked up, the Eagles (8-6-1, 5-1 UAA) will be headed to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in seven seasons under Head Coach Cory Greiner, including postseason berths in three of past four seasons.

With championship vibes in the air, the Eagles wasted no time setting the tone in Saturday's contest – scoring twice within the opening four minutes of the game to blitz out to a 2-0 lead.

Sophomore Julian Hee and graduate student Ryan Winkler linked up for the game's first marker at the 1:59 mark. Winkler curled around his defender on the left side before sending a picture-perfect cross to the right post where Hee was there to fire it in.

Two minutes later, Winkler found the scoring column with his UAA-leading ninth goal of the season. Sophomore Lorenzo Avalos doled a pass out left for Winkler where he in turn made a nice move to cut inside around his marker and fired a shot towards frame. His attempt hit the leg of another UC defender and saw the momentum of the shot find its way across the goal line.

Emory's two-goal advantage held until the final minutes of the first half when Chicago answered with a Sam Jimenez goal in the 43^rd minute to send the game to halftime at 2-1.

The Eagles brought the same intensity as the opening minutes to the second half with a chance to clinch the conference title.

Avalos extended the Eagles' lead to 3-1 in the 66^th minute with his fourth goal of the campaign. Junior Josh Grand provided the feed to Avalos at midfield and he did the rest, charging past three UC defenders before slotting a shot under the keeper arm for the score. The assist was Grand's conference-leading 10^th of the season.

Senior Attila Sepkin came through with Emory's fourth goal of the afternoon as he made it 4-1 in the 78^th minute. Senior Sebastian Rincon started the counterattack with a long pass to the left side of the field to Hee. After controlling the pass, Hee sent a cross to the back post where Sepkin was there to one-time it home.

The Eagles remained in control until the final moments when UC added a desperation goal with 76 seconds left in the game to provide the 4-2 final margin.

Sophomore Sharan Dodwani collected a career-high nine saves to win his third straight game as the Emory backline withheld constant pressure from the Maroons as they tried to get back into the game. 

Emory will be back at the WoodPEC one final time in 2024 next Saturday, November 9^th, as the Eagles will host the University of Rochester in the regular season finale. Prior to the 1:30 PM kickoff, the Eagles will recognize its 12-member graduating class with a special on-field Senior Day ceremony.