WENHAM, Mass. (courtesy Gordon College sports information) -- The Brandeis University women's soccer team halted a four-match losing streak today, defeating the host Gordon College Fighting Scots, 3-1, on the road. With the win, the Judges improve to 3-4, while GC drops to 4-3.
With conditions slick after a midday rainstorm, Brandeis took an early lead when the ball skipped off a Gordon defender into the net in the fourth minute to give the Judges the 1-0 lead. On their heels from the early goal, the Scots battled to control possession and keep the Brandeis attack at bay throughout the remainder of the half, staving off eight more attempts by their guests to keep the game at 1-0 going into the break.
The second half proved to be a similar story to the first, however, as Brandeis senior Ali Maresca (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) headed home a corner from rookie Alec Spivack (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto Senior) to extend the lead to 2-0 less than two minutes into the stanza. The goal was Maresca's first of the season and third of her career, while the assist was the first collegiate point for Spivack.
That lead was extended even further just eight minutes later when sophomore back Kelly Peterson (Houston, Texas/Clear Lake) drove home a direct from 35 yards out to make it a 3-0 game. Not going down without a fight, the Scots rebounded to apply more offensive pressure in the final third of the game, finally breaking the silence in the 65th minute when junior Karina Scavo (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) ripped a low driven shot off a direct kick through the Brandeis wall and past the keeper to close the gap to 3-1. That would be as close as Gordon would get, though, as the Judges would shore up on defense to preserve the two-goal win.
Gordon sophomore netminder Kari Christensen (Standish, Maine) finished the day with 12 saves, while Judge junior Francine Kofinas (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) turned away five for Brandeis.
Brandeis will travel to Lasell on Thursday, September 22 for a 4:30p.m. kickoff. The Scots return to conference play on Saturday, September 24 as they travel to nearby Beverly, Mass. to take on Endicott at 7:00p.m.