The Brandeis women’s soccer team fell to 5-8-1 Sunday after losing to Washington University 3-0. Two days earlier, Brandeis tied the University of Chicago 1-1 in a match that was delayed for an hour and 25 minutes due to lightning. The Judges earned their first point of the season in the conference standings with their tie against Chicago.
Brandeis got off to an excellent start in the game versus Chicago. Just 2:01 minutes into the match, midfielder Mimi Theodore ’12 passed the ball to midfielder Mary Shimko ’14, who was waiting at the top of the box. Shimko ripped the ball top shelf and, although it was barely deflected by Maroon goalkeeper Emma Gormley, the ball found its way into the net. Shimko’s score was her team-leading third goal of the season.
Seven minutes later the Judges had another opportunity to score when tri-captain forward Alanna Torre ’12 got a shot off on a corner kick, but it was saved by Gormley. Tri-captain defender Ali Maresca ’12 then followed up with another shot, but it was deflected to Torre who had her shot saved again. The Judges ended up outshooting the Maroons 9-5 in an overall well-played first half. Five of the Judges’ nine shots were on goal, while only two of the Maroons’ five shots were on goal.
In the second half, the rain picked up, making it difficult for both teams to control the ball. Chicago was able to capitalize in the 54th minute when the rain was coming down the hardest. Maroon senior Allison Hegel was able to free up some space after a Judge defensive back slipped on the wet surface. Hegel then skipped a shot on the slick turf that made its way past the dive of Brandeis goalkeeper Francine Kofinas ’13 and into the net. Hegel, who now has seven goals this season, leads the Maroons in scoring.
Less than a minute after the goal was scored, a bright flash of lightning lit up the sky, forcing the referees to stop the game. The delay lasted an hour and a half and, when the game resumed, Chicago had the momentum. Kofinas made several saves, including a last-minute save when she came off the line to save a shot on a breakaway by Hegel. In overtime, neither team was able to get into a rhythm, with possession changing frequently. The Judges finished with 19 shots on goal to the Maroons’ 18, with Kofinas and Gormley making six and eight saves respectively.
Unsatisfied with a tie, Brandeis hoped to come out victorious in their next match when they faced 10th-ranked Washington University this past Sunday at home. The Judges, however, would leave Sunday’s match even more dissatisfied. In the 17th minute, Bears senior forward Emma Brown scored her eighth goal of the season, nailing a ball into the top shelf of the net from a few yards outside the box. Two minutes later, Wash U added to their lead when sophomore midfielder Lauren Steimle headed a ball into the net on a beautiful cross by junior midfielder Lauren Clatch. The goal was Steimle’s ninth of the season, a team high.
After being outshot 11-3 in the first half, the Judges looked to gain some momentum in the second half. In the 59th minute, forward Alyssa Fenenbock ’15 was able to make a nice cross that could have been scored by a teammate, before Wash U sophomore back Jen Reed cleared the ball, keeping the shutout in order. Then, in the 65th minute, the Bears added some insurance when sophomore Jessica Johnson scored on a cross by senior Mari Greenberg.
After being outshot 22-8 by Wash U, Brandeis will look to rebound at home versus Endicott College on Monday at 4 p.m. in a non-conference match.
