In the highly touted matchup between the nation's top programs, it was the No. 2 ranked WashU Bears that pulled through with the victory over the No. 1 ranked Emory University women's soccer team Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to the start of the match, the Eagles recognized their seven-member senior class with a special on-field ceremony.
The Eagles were dealt their first loss of the campaign following the result, falling to 14-1-1 on the year and 3-1-1 inside UAA competition. The defeat snapped a 15-game unbeaten streak for Emory which was the third-longest streak in program history. For WashU, the Bears improve to 15-0-1 overall and remain unbeaten in conference play at 5-0.
The matchup featuring Division III's most dominant defenses played up to its billing with WashU narrowly winning the shots battle, 13-12, while the teams combined for just seven shots on goal.
The Bears were the first to strike on the afternoon when Grace Ehlert found the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Precision passing from Madison Foley and Monica Morales-Martinez opened up an opportunity for Ehlert to score from distance as she ripped a curling shot to the back left corner for her 11th goal of the season. The goal surrendered was Emory's first since September 21st, snapping a string of seven straight games with a shutout which tied the Eagles' team record for consecutive clean sheets.
WashU held the 1-0 into the halftime break but it was the Eagles that struck first to open the second half.
Freshman Sophia Asiain intercepted a WashU pass at midfield before lofting a pass over the Bears' backline allowing junior Kaitlyn Nimmer to race it down. Without breaking stride, Nimmer corralled the feed and placed a shot over the top of the sliding WashU keeper to level the score at 1-1 just 95 seconds following the break.
The teams traded shots after the Emory equalizer but neither side could find the go-ahead goal until the Bears' Olivia Clemons broke the tie in the 81st minute. WashU's keeper, Kassidy Lanthier, sent a punt past the midfield line that connected with an Emory defender. The redirect had an unfortunate bounce for the Eagles as it fell behind the backline, allowing Clemons to win the foot race to the ball before making one step and sending a strike to the right corner.
Trailing by one in the closing minutes, the Eagles could not put another attempt on the stat sheet over the final moments.
Emory will head on the road over the next two weekends to close out the regular season, first traveling to Cleveland, Ohio next Saturday, November 1st, for another top-10 matchup against the No. 6 ranked Case Western Reserve Spartans. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 1:30 PM.
