PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester men's soccer team fell to 6th-ranked Emory University 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale for both squads at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
Emory with the win, improves to 13-1-3 overall and finishes 3-1-3 in UAA conference play. Rochester closes the regular season with a 9-5-4 record and 3-3-1 mark in the UAA. Both teams will hope their resumes are enough to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament, with selections for that event being announced on Monday morning.
 
Both of the Eagle goals came off of set pieces, one corner kick and one free kick. Rochester's goal came from Johnny Makula, after a steal and rocket shot from the edge of the box.
 
It was a scoreless opening half, with the Eagles leading 7-4 in shots. Rochester's Ben Ziegler had two saves over that timeframe though, keeping the game scoreless. Makula provided the lone Rochester shot on goal over the half.
 
In the second half, Emory got the scoring started in the 60th minute with Owen Clark heading in a bouncing ball in the box. The play started with a corner kick that sailed toward the far post with that service being headed down in the box. Clark jumped up and headed it again, finding the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. Christopher Marchant and Adeyemi Oni picked up assists on the play for the Eagles.
 
Ten minutes later, Makula notched the equalizer for the Yellowjackets. Strong pressure by UR's Makula and Kamal Ibrahim forced the turnover in Emory territory, with Makula ending with the ball, sprinting to the edge of the box and ripping a rocket into the top right corner of the net. The sophomore's tally was his fifth of the season, establishing a new single-season career high.
 
Later in the half, the Yellowjackets had two other solid chances to possibly take the lead.
 
At the 77:10 mark, EliJose Araujo sprinted in to receive a slip pass, but his left-footed shot from the left wing was stopped by a leaping Geoffrey Halpern in the Emory goal.
 
Three minutes later, Makula had another great opportunity after a long run up the left side, but his tough-angle attempt sailed wide of the far post.
 
Emory then scored the game-winner at the 83-minute mark following a free kick. A Rochester foul set up the Eagles with the attempt just outside the 18. Jack Burgess took the kick and rattled it off the crossbar, only to have Marchant be in perfect position to outleap a defender in the middle of the 6-yard box, heading in the ball for the goal.
 
Down the stretch, Rochester had just one shot for the remaining seven minutes, with Alessio Cristanetti-Walker's attempt in the 86th minute sailing wide.