ATLANTA – The ninth-ranked Centre women's soccer team faced their first ranked opponent of the year as they traveled to no. 20 Emory, a team that has historically been a thorn in the Colonels' side. After grabbing an early lead, the Colonels withstood a barrage of shots from the Eagles and won by a score of 1-0.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The Eagles got an early corner kick, but Centre controlled the early stages of the first half. Brooke Smithson and Sarah Sirkin each had shots blocked, but the Colonels broke through as Sirkin, who scored a hat trick last night at Oglethorpe, scored off an assist from Gracie Fitzgerald 17 minutes in to give Centre a 1-0 lead.
- Emory picked up the aggressive play after the first goal and put several shots on Jonelle Barron, but the rookie keeper staved them all off. The Colonels had some chances towards the end of the half, but three separate tries by Alana Hughes were stopped as the 1-0 lead remained until halftime.
- Halfway through the second half, Emory unleashed a flurry of shots at the Centre net, but Barron came up huge with three clutch saves and the Colonels deflected another shot to stay up by one goal.
- Things finally calmed down after the Emory onslaught as the Eagles only put one shot on goal in the final 15 minutes, but Barron saved the header attempt by Shivani Beall in the 86^th minute and the Colonels preserved the 1-0 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

- Emory held a 20-12 advantage in shots for the game and a 9-6 edge in shots on goal.
- Barron's nine saves marked a new career high for the newcomer, surpassing her previous career high of six, set against Mount Union two weeks ago.
- With her game winner today, Sirkin now has four goals in the last two games and is currently tied for second on the team with six for the year. Sirkin and Hughes tied game highs with four shots each – three on goal.
- Fitzgerald's assist was her first of the season.

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