Emory University won the 2004
University Athletic Association (UAA) championship and
earned a bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament.
The Eagles overcame several injuries
and a 1-4 start en route to their best national finish
since 2000. The Eagles faced a tough schedule from the
start playing a nationally ranked Division III or NAIA
team in the each of the first five games. In addition,
Emory lost its top two goalkeepers to injuries.
The Eagles earned their first
win defeating the No. 17 team in the nation in one of
three wins this season over nationally ranked teams. With
that win, Coach Michael Sabatelle won the 200th game of
his Emory career. He and Assistant Coach Laura LeDuc were
named Coaching Staff of the Year by the UAA.
After a loss to start conference
play, the Eagles won their remaining six conference games,
including two over nationally ranked teams, to grab the
UAA title for the fourth time in history. As conference
champions, the Eagles earned their eighth bid ever to
the NCAA tournament.
The Eagles then finished the
regular season by winning 11 of the last 13 games.
The Eagles won 2-0 in the first
round of the NCAA tournament, but fell to the No. 10 ranked
team in the nation 1-0 in overtime in the second round
(round of 32).
The Eagles scored first in 15
of 20 games, winning 13 of those games, and were 9-1 when
leading at the half.
The defense posted nine shutouts.
The Eagles have had at least nine shutouts every season
since 1998. Their streak of five consecutive shutouts
tied for fourth best in school history.
The following Eagles received post-season
honors:
| All-Conference (University Athletic
Association) |
| Lauren Hudak |
First Team |
Dunwoody, GA (Woodward Academy) |
| Jenna Kereiakes |
Second Team |
Cincinnati, OH (Indian Hill) |
| Nancy Wilson |
Second Team |
Mt. Pleasant, SC (Bishop England) |
| Adrienne DeMarais |
Honorable Mention |
Shoreview, MN (Mounds Park Academy) |
| Carrie Eckenhoff |
Honorable Mention |
Glencoe, IL (New Trier) |
| Laurel O'Neal |
Honorable Mention |
Chapel Hill, NC (East Chapel Hill) |
Adrienne DeMarais
After scoring 20 points as a freshman, Adrienne DeMarais
switched from scoring goals to stopping them as a sophomore
by filling in after Emory's top two goalkeepers went were
injured. DeMarais became the Eagles' full-time keeper
in the 10th game of the season, and started by earning
shutouts in her first five complete games in the goal.
She was 6-0 in conference play helping the Eagles to a
conference championship and earning honorable mention
for the all-conference team. In 11 games after becoming
full-time goalie, she posted a 0.44 goals against average,
earned seven shutouts, and had a 9-2 record. She was selected
conference Athlete of the Week on October 11 for her two
shutouts the previous week, including one against the
No. 11 team in the nation. DeMarais' 0.55 goals against
average for the whole season ranks seventh in Emory history
and her seven shutouts is fourth in school history.
Carrie Eckenhoff
Senior Carrie Eckenhoff earned honorable mention for the
all-conference team. Eckenhoff ranked second on the team
in goals (6) and third in points (17) moving her into
the top 12 at Emory for the major career scoring categories.
Eckenhoff is sixth in career assists (21), 10th in career
points (59), and 12th in career goals (19). She scored
two goals in a game twice this year, against Piedmont
(Ga.) and Oglethorpe (Ga.). Eckenhoff, who was a team
captain, started every game this season and played in
all 78 of the Eagles' matches during her career.
Jamie English
Freshman Jamie English led the team in points (20) and
assists (8) and tied for second in goals (6). She is the
sixth Emory freshman to lead her team in scoring. Her
season ranks among the best all-time for Emory freshmen,
placing third in assists, 10th in points, and 13th in
goals. English was the only Eagle to score five points
in a game, scoring two goals and one assist against Wesleyan
(Ga.). She had two four-point games, scoring two goals
against Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a goal and two assists
against Oglethorpe (Ga.).
Lauren Hudak
After missing all of the previous season with a knee injury,
Lauren Hudak started every game this season and received
first-team all-conference honors. Hudak scored five goals
this season. In three consecutive "must-win"
conference matches, Hudak scored the game-winning goal,
game-tying goal, and game-winning goal; the latter two
earned her conference Athlete of the Week honors for November
1.
Jenna Kereiakes
Junior forward Jenna Kereiakes earned all-conference honors
for the second straight year, as she was named to the
all-conference second team. Kereiakes led the Eagles in
goals (7) and was second in points (18). She was one of
four Eagles to score at least four points in a game as
she had a goal and two assists against Piedmont (Ga.).
Kereiakes continues to move up the Emory career leaderboards,
as she is sixth in career goals (28) and eighth in career
points (67).
Laurel O'Neal
For the second year in a row, sophomore defender Laurel
O'Neal received honorable mention in voting for the all-conference
team. O'Neal was a part of a clutch Emory defense that
was 5-0 in conference games decided by one goal and had
nine shutouts this season. O'Neal had four assists, including
two in one game against Wesleyan (Ga.), the first multiple-point
game of her career. O'Neal was the only defender to start
every game this season.
Nancy Wilson
For the second year in a row Nancy Wilson was named to the all-conference second team. She captained the Eagles' defense to nine shutouts. Wilson and the defense were strong when in the lead finishing with a 9-1 record when leading at the half and a 13-2 record when the Eagles scored the first goal. Wilson had eight points and three goals this season, including the only goal in Emory's 1-0 victory over Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) to clinch the conference title.
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Written by A.J. Gochenaur,
Emory sports information assistant
