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2004
Emory University finished the regular
season ranked 21st by the National Soccer Coaches Association
of America (NSCAA). After losing two all-conference forwards
to graduation, the Eagles outscored all opponents 46-14 en
route to its 19th winning season in 21 years with a 12-4-2
record.
The Eagles fell one goal shy of the University Athletic Association
title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III national
tournament. The Eagles lost 2-1 on the road to the 25th ranked
team in the nation and eventual conference champions. In the
three games against teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament
this season, the Eagles went 2-1, outscoring their opponents
11-3.
Emory's defense recorded 10 shutouts, the third highest total
for the Eagles in the last 29 years and the most since 1986.
The squad's 0.75 goals against average was the fourth best
in school history.
The Eagles entered the season ranked 20th in the nation, the
first time Emory has been ranked in a preseason poll since
1999. After starting the season 4-0, the Eagles moved up to
No. 3 in the national poll, their highest ranking of the season.
Emory went on to win eight of its first nine games for the
fourth best start in school history.
Coach Mike Rubesch picked up his 200th career win Sept. 4
against Methodist (N.C.). He became the 43rd active men's
soccer coach in Division III to reach the 200-win plateau.
The following Emory players received individual post-season
honors:
| All-Region (National Soccer Coaches Association
of America) |
| Karl Dix |
First Team |
Snellville, GA (Brookwood) |
| Kevin McCarthy |
Third Team |
St. Louis, MO (St. Louis University) |
| |
| All-Conference (University Athletic Association) |
| Karl Dix |
First Team |
Snellville, GA (Brookwood) |
| Jon Arost |
Second Team |
Winter Park, FL (Trinity Prep) |
| Tyler Gordon |
Second Team |
Tampa, FL (Hillsborough) |
| Kevin McCarthy |
Second Team |
St. Louis, MO (St. Louis University) |
| Anthony Esposito |
Honorable Mention |
New Port Richey, FL (Jesuit) |
| Alex Grigulanas |
Honorable Mention |
Snellville, GA (South Gwinnett) |
Rohit Agarwal
Junior goalkeeper Rohit Agarwal played in nine games for the
Eagles this season, starting eight of them. In more than 731
minutes, Agarwal allowed five goals for a team-best 0.62 goals
against average (GAA). He recorded a team high this season
in saves (31), shutouts (3) and wins (6). Heading into his
senior season, Agarwal's 0.67 career GAA is on pace to break
the school record. He is fifth in school history in career
wins with 22 victories, and sixth in career shutouts with
seven.
Jon Arost
Jon Arost finished his senior season tied for the team lead
in points (27) and goals (11), both single-season highs for
the forward. Nine of Arost's points (four goals and one assist)
came in University Athletic Association (UAA) games, the second
highest total of any player in the conference. He was named
to the all-conference second team, the first time he has received
the honor. Arost recorded the third hat trick of his career
on Sept. 26, becoming the third player in Emory history with
at least three hat tricks. Arost finishes sixth in school
history in career assists, ninth in career points and 10th
in career goals.
Chad Chambers
In his first year starting for the Eagles, Chad Chambers tied
for the team lead with 11 goals. He only needed seven games
to match his previous season best total of five goals. Chambers
added four assists for a total of 26 points, the third most
on the team. On Sept. 24, Chambers became the 13th player
in Eagles history to record a hat trick, capping off a three-game
span when he scored 14 points.
Michael Conway
Michael Conway started all 10 games he played in for Emory,
compiling a GAA of 0.79. In his first season, the junior goalkeeper
did not allow a goal in his first five starts as an Eagle.
Over the course of the season, Conway had three shutouts and
22 saves, 15 of which came in conference games. Conway's shutout
performance on Oct. 31 against conference rival New York University
with one game remaining in the season kept alive Emory's hopes
of a conference title.
Karl Dix
Karl Dix was named to the all-region first team for the second
consecutive season, becoming the first Eagle to do so since
1999. He made his second straight appearance on the UAA all-conference
first team. With a team-best nine assists this year, Dix moved
into fourth place for career assists in school history after
two seasons on the team. The junior, who scored a career-high
nine goals, finished the season tied for the team lead with
27 points. Dix's assist and point total's were the second
and third highest in the conference respectively. The midfielder
scored in 11 of 18 games for the Eagles, including scoring
two game-winning goals himself, and assisting on an additional
two game winners. Dix became the 12th Eagle to record a hat
trick when he scored three consecutive goals for the team
on Sept. 12.
Anthony Esposito
Anthony Esposito earned honorable mention in voting for the
all-conference team. The midfielder finished his Emory career
with 21 assists, the 10th highest total in school history.
Tyler Gordon
Tyler Gordon finished with a career-high six assists, matching
his career total entering the season. Three of Gordon's assists
came in conference games, helping him earn a spot on the all-conference
second team for the first time in his career. He started all
18 games for an Eagle defense that helped record the fourth-lowest
GAA in school history.
Alex Grigalunas
Alex Grigalunas started all 18 games for Emory this season
and is the only Eagle to start every game over the past two
years. The sophomore defender had one goal and a career-best
seven assists for the season. Grigalunas led the UAA in assists
in conference games with five en route to earning honorable
mention for the all-conference team. On Oct. 15, Grigalunas
assisted on all three of the team's goals, becoming only the
second player in school history to accomplish the feat.
Kevin McCarthy
Defender Kevin McCarthy helped Emory record 10 shutouts, the
most by an Eagle defense since 1986. The senior was named
to the all-region third team, the first time in his career
that he has been awarded the honor. McCarthy started all 14
games he played in, increasing his career total to 68 starts,
the fifth most in school history and second most by a defender.
He picked up assists in two consecutive games on Sept. 24
and Sept. 26. McCarthy was named to the UAA all-conference
second team for his defensive contributions this season.
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Written by Jonathan Schwartz,
Emory sports information assistant.
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