The women’s soccer team pulled off a win on Homecoming weekend against Washington University on Sunday, Oct. 18, after falling to the University of Chicago Maroons 1-0 on Friday, Oct. 16. The score of the conference match-up was 1-0 with a golden goal occurring in overtime as parents, students, alumni and animals from the petting zoo supported the team from the sidelines. It would be the Judges’ ninth shutout win of the season.
The tension was high as the two top-10 ranked teams met at Gordon Field. The 10th-ranked Judges pulled off the upset against the seventh-ranked bears, who received their first loss against a UAA conference opponent in the homecoming match-up.
The game advanced the Judges’ record to 12-2-1 as they approach the end of the regular season. Both losses have been to UAA conference opponents. The Judges’ conference record is now 2-2.
It was a tight game between two skilled teams, with both offenses applying strong pressure, requiring great saves on both ends of the field. Overall, Brandeis earned the advantage in shots with 13-11 against the visiting team, while receiving an even greater advantage in shots on goal, 7-3. For the duration of the first half, the Judges’ defense excelled. The visiting team was unable to land a shot on goal for the entirety of the first 45-minute period.
Katie Chandler ’17 of Washington University had a particularly lucrative game with seven shot opportunities, two of which landed on goal. Holly Szafran ’16 had a team-high two shots on goal from a total of three shot opportunities for Brandeis.
Wash U’s goalkeeper made a total of five saves during the 1-0 game, and Brandeis goalie Alexis Grossman ’17 saved all three of the Bears’ shots on goal, securing the shutout for the Judges.
An incredible save came from a Wash U’s defender in the 72nd minute. Brandeis junior Cidney Moscovitch ’17 took a shot on goal on an open net, but before it could sneak past the goal line, the defender cleared the ball off the line, robbing the Judges of a second half goal.
Later on, the game-winning goal came from senior captain Alec Spivack ’16 in overtime. Spivack netted the ball off of a free kick 25 yards out in the 95th minute following a foul from the Bears. It was Spivack’s third of the season, two of which were game-winners. Additionally, it was the first goal allowed by the Wash U women’s team in six games.
The excitement was felt throughout the stands as the women’s team stormed the field following the golden goal that dethroned the UAA undefeated Wash U team.
The Judges hosted another game on Wednesday Oct. 21 against Westfield State University. Brandeis pulled out the win by a score of 3-1, with two goals in the first half and one in the second. The win advanced their overall record to 13-2-1. Goals came from Szafran (two) and Spivack for the Judges.
Brandeis women’s soccer has a nine-day break following the Westfield State game on Wednesday. They are scheduled to play again on Friday Oct. 30 in Atlanta against Emory University. The Emory team is currently 7-6-1, with a 0-3-1 record against UAA conference opponents.
