The Brandeis Womens Soccer team came into the last weekend of October with a lot to play for. Not only was it parents weekend and Fall Fest, but Fridays game was played at night under the lights, which was a first for womens soccer at Gordon Field. More importantly, however, the Judges kicked off Fridays match needing victories in two of their final three outings to secure a spot in the postseason. Unfortunately, with so much on the line, Brandeis turned in its most miserable efforts of the season, losing the two games by a combined 9-0 score. As a result, the team will not participate in any postseason tournament and needs a victory in its final game to merely even its record, as now the Judges sit a game below .500 at 7-8-1, with an awful 1-5 mark in the University Athletic Association.

Taking the field shortly after the mens soccer team tied Washington University in the first ever night game at Gordon field, the Lady Judges got off to a slow start and fell victim to a barrage of goals by the Bears. Caitlin Malone began the scoring in the twenty-fourth minute by collecting a loose ball in the box and taking a shot that caromed off the goal post and into the net. It took Washington only three minutes to double their lead, as Kim OKeefe hit a hard shot just under the crossbar for her fourth goal of the season.

Both of the Bears first two scores were unassisted, but their third, which came in the thirty-second minute, was the result of a gorgeous corner kick by Washingtons leading scorer, midfielder Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn. Her kick connected with the head of forward Katie Campos, who perfectly directed the ball past Brandeis keeper Betsey Medow 08. The Judges found themselves trailing by three at the half, and had only one shot on goal to show for their efforts.

The second half featured much of the same sort of play that characterized the first half, and Brandeis never got its offense on track. The Judges were able to place slightly more pressure on the Washington goal, but reserve keeper Carrie Sear was more than equal to the challenge, making six saves to preserve the shutout. In the seventy-second minute, Fowler-Finn added a fourth goal for the Bears on a drive from well outside the penalty area that eluded Julie Scherr 08, who replaced Medow at the half. The final score was 4-0 in favor of Washington.

The Judges hoped to bounce back on Sunday against the University of Chicago, but once again the team came out flat and fell behind early. Scherr, starting this match instead of Medow, kept the Maroons off the board with a pair of big saves in the sixth and ninth minutes, but she couldnt stop a hard drive by midfielder Olivia Ndyabagye that found its way into the lower left corner. Chicago continued to pour on the pressure all through the first half, and went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead and a glaring 12-1 edge in shots. Brandeis only chance in the first half came when forward Lisa Kaplin 07 headed a corner kick wide in the thirty-fifth minute.

Although they had been severely outplayed in the first half, Brandeis only trailed by a goal and was still very much in the game as the second half kicked off. However, any thoughts of a comeback were quickly ended by the Maroons. One minute into the second half, Chicago went up by two on a goal by forward Christine Farmer, and before the Lady Judges could even gather themselves, Chicago scored again. This time the goal came off the foot of Renee Neuner, who put a shot into the right corner of the net following a broken play inside Brandeiss goal box. There was slight confusion following the play, as prior to the goal Brandeis defender Margot Moinester 09 played a ball near the sideline that the line judge had ruled out of bounds. However, the referee allowed play to continue despite the line judges efforts to alert her that the ball had gone over the line. Following the goal, the line judge conversed with the referee and the goal was allowed to stand, much to the confusion of many spectators on the sideline. With the tally Neuner became the UAAs all-time leading scorer, with 24 goals over her four-year career.

The Judges gave up two more goals late in the half, both as a result of chaotic plays in the penalty area. When the final whistle sounded, the Judges had a 5-0 loss on their hands, and the realization that their season will end on November 5th against New York University. That game will be played at Brandeiss Gordon Field at 1:00.