The Brandeis women’s soccer team concluded their four-game homestand this past week, beating Lasell University 6-0 on Sep. 4, losing to Clark U 2-1 on Sep. 8 and defeating Eastern Connecticut State University 5-0 on Saturday.
Saturday, Sep. 4: Brandeis 6 – Lasell 0
Sophomore Yasla Ngoma ’24 scored twice and Sydney Lenhart ‘24 had two assists as the Judges routed Lasell for their first victory of the season.
Senior forward Juliette Carreiro ’22 opened the scoring in the 27th minute, beating Lasell’s goalkeeper with a left-footed shot. Brandeis freshman goalkeeper Hannah Bassan ’25 set up the play, booting the ball near midfield following a shot from the Lasers. The ball deflected off Ngoma to Lenhart, who chipped the ball over to an open Carreiro. Ngoma scored a minute later, doubling the Judges’ lead. The Judges added a third goal in the 44th minute and led 3-0 at the half.
The second half also belonged to the Judges. Senior Makenna Hunt ’22, Ngoma, and freshman Charlotte Majer ’25 each scored. For Ngoma, the goals marked her second and third goals of the season. Carreiro and freshman midfielder Dominique Paglia ’25 added an assist. The Judges dominated throughout, outshooting the Lasers 35-2. For Judges head coach Mary Shimko, the victory marked the first in her career.
Wednesday, Sep. 8: Clark 2 – Brandeis 1
Despite outshooting the Cougars 22-8, the Judges’ comeback attempt fell just short, as the Judges lost to Clark for the first time since 2008.
Up 1-0 to begin the second half, the Cougars doubled their lead in the 48th minute on a header. The Judges fought back, answering in the 55th minute. Ngoma won the ball in the Cougars’ defensive third and rifled a shot. The Clark goalkeeper saved her shot, but couldn’t scoop up the rebound before Carreiro found the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
The Judges maintained possession for most of the match and created numerous opportunities. One of these chances included a shot from a set piece by senior midfielder Lauren Mastandrea ’22 in the 27th minute, which missed just above the crossbar.
Saturday, Sep. 11: Brandeis 5 – Eastern Connecticut State 0
Juliette Carreiro recorded a career-high three assists and the Judges totaled 30 shots on the way to defeating the Warriors 5-0, concluding their homestand on a positive note.
Lenhart scored her first collegiate goal, tapping in a Carreiro cross to open the scoring in the 23rd minute. Three minutes later, Hunt scored her 10th career goal courtesy of another Carreiro assist. The Judges led 2-0 at the half.
Ngoma opened the scoring in the second half in the 61st minute, which came off a corner kick from junior midfielder Caroline Swan ’23. Carreiro found Lenhart again in the 68th minute to increase the lead to 4-0. Less than a minute later, senior midfielder Daria Bakhtiari ’22 scored her first goal of the season, heading in a cross from Swan.
The Judges are now 2-1-1 on the year. Ngoma leads the team with four goals and Carreiro leads the Judges with four assists. The Judges will play four more matches, two away and two at Gordon Field, before beginning play in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Saturday, Oct. 2, at Carnegie Mellon.
The next home game for the Judges is Wednesday, Sep. 22, against UMass Boston at 4:30 p.m.
