CHICAGO – The University of Chicago men's soccer team opened University Athletic Association (UAA) league play on Saturday afternoon by claiming a 5-0 victory against visiting Emory University.

The No. 6-ranked Maroons improved to 5-1-4. The Eagles dropped to 5-4-1.

UChicago was aggressive from the start of the whistle, moving the ball forward and creating more opportunities than Emory. The hosts slowly worked the ball up from the back while the Eagles stuck 10 players behind the ball to prevent penetration up the middle.

Sophomore Sahil Modi opened with the first shot for the home team within the first minute. This was followed later on by sophomore Kyle Ruark, who battled past the defense but whose shot went directly into the keeper's hands. Midway through the half, first-year Kameron Bloye took a rocket shot from downtown that hit the crossbar, and immediately Modi went for the diving header that the Eagles' goalkeeper got to.

Maroon goalkeeper Aaron Katsimpalis was tested for the first time towards the end of the first half after an Eagles player dribbled past the midfield and shot from distance. Katsimpalis made the easy save and went on to make six stops throughout the entire match.

It wasn't until the 43rd minute that the Maroons opened the scoring. After a corner kick was taken by UChicago, first-year Richard Gillespie's header hit the crossbar. But junior Bryce Millington managed to get the rebound header that went into the net for his team-high fourth goal of the season.

The Maroons carried their momentum into the second half. Less than a minute in, Modi made a brilliant run after a pass from first-year Michael Johnson and his cross inadvertently went into the upper 90 of the far post, giving his side the 2-0 lead.

In the 52nd minute, Ruark got free on a counter, deked his lone defender several times and delivered a back-heel assist to a wide-open Johnson who sunk it in for a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Jorge Branco extended it in the 72nd minute by dribbling past the defense and scoring the fourth goal of the game. Lastly, sophomore Peyton Lane iced the match in the final 30 seconds, dribbling past the goalie for an open goal.

The Maroons outshot the Eagles by a 19-9 margin, and similarly owned corner kicks 8-3.  

NEXT GAME:

• Sunday, Oct. 13 @ 1:30 PM (ET) – UChicago at University of Rochester