Since the last publication of The Hoot, the women’s soccer team has been ranked #21 by the United Soccer Coaches and extended their season record to 9-2. Four of their last five games were held at home on Gordon Field, all of which they won. However, the most recent game they played was an away match against their first University Athletic Association (UAA) competitor of the season.
After a string of four away games, the women’s soccer team was back on home turf to face Johnson & Wales University (JWU) of Providence, Rhode Island. JWU came in ranked fifth in top scoring offenses in Division III while the Judges were ranked ninth. Despite this statistic, the Judges were able to successfully score two goals in the first half of this match, essentially winning the game before the halfway mark. Each of the goals scored were assisted by key playmaker, Peterly Leroy ’28. The first goal came in the 18th minute when Leroy ’28 sent a well-placed ball to classmate Laurene Creteau ’28 who finished it. This was Creteau’s third collegiate goal and it was Leroy’s first collegiate assist. Just ten minutes later, the Judges scored the winning goal when Madison Sansone ’26 received a cross from Leroy ’28 and one-touched it into the back of the JWU net. Unfortunately, JWU scored a goal with five minutes left in the frame, though this was not enough for them to outscore the Judges.
Three days later, the Judges hosted the Lesley University Lynx in another non-conference contest on Gordon Field. This game was relatively uneventful as the Judges won 1-0 off of a free kick. This opportunity came in the 30th minute when Ali Pennella ’27 was taken down about 35 yards from the goal. A foul was called and the Judges were subsequently awarded a free-kick. Senior back and veteran for the Judges Rachel Watler ’25 stepped up and perfectly lofted the ball into the upper right corner of the Lesley net. This gave the Judges a one-point lead. The Brandeis defense was then able to hold off the Lynx for the remainder of the game, only allowing Lesley a single off-target shot within the remaining 60 minutes of the game. Thus, the Judges came away victorious, adding another win to their season record.
Next, the Judges hosted Trinity College in their annual Homecoming Weekend game. As the women’s soccer team played before the men’s on this day, the women were able to keep the large crowds entertained with a very exciting game against the Trinity Bantams.The Bantams’ first and only goal was scored in the 10th minute, which seemed to have set the tone for the first half. The game was not looking like it would turn out in favor of the Judges as the minutes remaining in the game began to dwindle. However, they miraculously found their spark with only 11 minutes left in the game. The Judges scored the equalizing goal in the 79th minute when Leroy ’28 was taken down in the 18-yard box. The Judges were awarded a penalty-kick for enduring this foul. Subsequently, Walter ’25 took this opportunity to score and capitalized, sending the ball soaring past the Bantams’ goalie. Just three minutes later, the Judges scored the winning goal of the game when Walter ’25 intercepted a poorly cleared ball from the Bantams and one-timed the ball into the back of the Trinity net. This was Walter’s second-straight game-winning goal. Rachel Ross (GRAD) and Hannah Bassan ’25 also made this win especially possible for the Judges as they protected the Brandeis net for a half each.
Marching on to extend their win streak and their best start since 2018, the Judges hosted their most recent home game against the Wheaton College Lyons. After winning this game, the Judges record was 9-1, which is the best record the team has held in six years. The Judges won this match 2-0, getting all of their goals within the first half of the game. The first goal occurred in the 20th minute when Briar Grady ’26 fed a ball to Tanvi Raju ’27 who blasted the ball into the Wheaton net from 30 yards out. The Judges doubled this lead 15 minutes later when Abby Kenkelen ’27 crossed a pass to Sydney Lenhart (GRAD) who netted the ball for her first goal of the season. With this game, the Judges closed out their non-conference games for the 2024 season. Now, the rest of the games they play during the regular season will be against fellow UAA competitors.
In their first in-conference game of the season, the Judges traveled to face the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Tartans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite the Tartans being ranked #4 in Division III women’s soccer, the Judges did not falter under pressure and were subsequently able to hold their own. Coinciding with this game, the women’s soccer team’s ranking jumped three spots to the #21 position. Despite this, the Judges did ultimately fall to the Tartans, but they were scored on with just three minutes left in regulation time. This was heartbreaking for the Judges as they nearly held off one of the best teams in Division III. This score does not define where the Judges are at this season nor how well they were able to defend the Tartans. The Judges only owned 39 percent of the possessions in the game, compared to the 61 percent that the Tartans owned.
Hopeful to get back in the win column, the Judges will play at 11 a.m. today, at home on Gordon Field. They will be hosting the University of Washington Bears. Their next game after this one will be a week later at the University of Chicago for some more UAA play!
