After a slow start to the season, replete with back-to-back overtime losses, the Brandeis womens soccer team has come alive and kicking. The team continued its winning ways to six games with a 2-0 victory over Westfield State.
It was a tight affair that featured no scoring in the first half, although not for a lack of effort: Westfield goalie Natalia Araszkiewicz stopped 10 Brandeis shots. The second half was a different story, however, as co-captain Lisa Kaplin 07 scored the game winner 61 seconds into the new frame. The goal was Kaplins sixth of the season. Meredith Millstein 09 provided the insurance tally in the 62nd minute of play;
it was her second goal of the year. Getting the assist on both plays was Sarah Jasak 08, who has been riding a hot streak of her own with one goal and three assists in the past two games. Brandeis outshot Westfield 16-9 and also held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. Backstopping for the Judges in the victory were veterans Julie Scherr 08 (2 saves) and Betsy Meadow 08 (4 saves), each making her first appearance on the field this season, both returning from injury.
Prior to this match, Brandeis gained a pair of hard-earned victories at home, shutting out Gordon 1-0 back on Sept. 21 and coming back to stun Bowdoin 2-1 on Sept. 24. Lizzie Bremmer 08 scored the game winner against Gordon on a penalty kick in the 57th minute while Amber DeBole 09 earned her first shutout with two saves.
Against Bowdoin, Brandeis rallied from a 1-0 deficit with second half goals from Jasak and Melissa Gorenkoff 10. The goals were three minutes apart and Gorenkoffs goal was the first of her college career. For Jasak, it was her fourth goal of the season and she also provided an assist. DeBole finished the game with three saves and a broken nose.
Lizzie Bremmer 08 explained about the Bowdoin match, We worked really hard at organization through the back and midfield and were really glad to come out on top at the end of a hard fought game.
The Lady Judges will attempt to extend their six game streak to lucky number seven as they take on UAA Conference rival Case Western Saturday morning, 10:30 a.m. at home. Case Western is 3-6-0 heading into the match, giving Brandeis, now 6-2-0, a strong chance to earn its first inter-conference win of the season.
