The Brandeis women’s soccer team traveled to Mansfield, CT, where they shut out host Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) 2-0. With two goals—one early and one late—the Judges reached their 10-win plateau for the eighth season in a row. This non-conference matchup improves Brandeis to 10-5-0, while the ECSU Warriors fall to 5-11 on their season.
Just three minutes into the game, Katie Hayes ’20 put the Judges on the board, netting her second goal of the season. Hayes maneuvered her way into the box, finishing off of a pass from first-year defender Caroline Swan ’23. Swan took the free kick from 40 yards after Daria Bakhtiari ’21 was tripped from behind. Swan’s kick was on time and on target as it soared into the box; Hayes, measuring only five feet seven inches, elevated above two defenders and drove the ball right below the crossbar into the lower left back of the net. Swan’s assist was her fourth of the season, and Hayes’ goal provided the Judges with a one-goal advantage early on in the game.
The Judges outshot Eastern Connecticut 29-1. However, the Warriors racked up a career-high number of saves. Tyrell, ECSU’s goalie, who is ranked ninth in New England, recorded 16 saves. With 44.5 seconds remaining in the matchup, sophomore forward Juliette Carreiro ’22 remained aggressive, sending one past the Warrior’s goalie on the left post; the Judges defeated their opponents 2-0. Victoria Richardson ’20, Brandeis’ veteran goalkeeper, recorded her fourth shutout across 15 starts this season.
The victory against ECSU allowed the Judges to improve to a 10-0 record against teams outside of the United Soccer Coaches’ top 25. Brandeis women’s soccer has won six straight games on the road since their opening loss at MIT, which is New England’s top-ranked team.
Swan said to The Brandeis Hoot, “I would say that we found a lot of success in our possessions and definitely dominated the game; but, unfortunately, we couldn’t finish as many opportunities as we would have liked to. Going into next week’s important UAA [University Athletic Association] games, hopefully we can clean that up; but a win is a win!”
The Judges are looking to return to Waltham undefeated after their next two road games, which begin Friday Nov. 1 at Emory University and finish in Rochester on Sunday Nov. 3 against the University of Rochester. “We scored a free kick early in the game,” said Swan, “and those have been a key part of our success; so we are hoping to continue to capitalize on our set pieces.”
