The women’s soccer team shows no signs of slowing down this year. They are just hitting their stride, climbing up three spots to be the 15th ranked team in a NSCAA Division III National poll, according to the Brandeis Athletics website. Ranked in front of the Judges are Trinity (Texas) in 12th place, Emory (Georgia) in 13th place and William Smith (New York) in 14th place.
The Judges, also ranked second in New England, are 8-1-1. The ranking follows a 1-0 win against Wellesley and a 5-1 win against Case Western Reserve. Credit, in part, was due to yet another impressive week from senior co-captain Sofia Vallone ’11.
Vallone was chosen as the UAA Offensive Player of the Week (week of Oct. 3) for the second week in a row. Last Saturday, Vallone earned her first hat-trick, scoring three goals against Case Western. Tiffany Pacheco ’11 started off the five goal win when she scored in the 10th minute with a far away shot for her sixth goal of the season. She now leads the UAA this year with 11 goals and 24 points.
Rain postponed a scheduled game against Tufts on Wednesday. The Judges travel to Rochester Saturday for a 5 p.m. game before going to Clark next Tuesday. UAA play will then heat up with home games against Carnegie Mellon and Emory.
The men’s squad, who started out by piling up six consecutive victories, have now dropped three straight games by one goal. Their latest defeat came on Saturday against Case Western 3-2.
Even with a strong individual performance from Alexander Farr ’12, who had a goal and an assist, the Spartans brought too much offense last weekend. They opened up in the 18th minute with a goal by Eric Erb ’13.
Farr also earned UAA Offensive Player of the week honors for the first time in his Brandeis career this week. He is ranked third in scoring in the UAA with five goals.
Their game against Wheaton on Wedensday was postponed due to rain and the Judges will travel with the girls squad to Rochester on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. kick off.
They will also pick up play next week with UAA rivals Carnegie Mellon and Emory as part of a four-game home stand.
