WALTHAM, Mass. – The 22nd-ranked Brandeis University women's soccer team defeated visiting Babson College, 4-1, tonight to run their record to 10-1 on the season, marking the best record in program history through 11 games, tied with the 2003 and 2004 squads.
The Judges wasted little time in getting on the board tonight, scoring in the fifth minute on their first shot of the game. Sophomore Dara Spital (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) had a nice service around the perimeter of the 18-yard box, and rookie forward Holly Szafran (Newton, Mass./Newton North) headed it over the head of Babson sophomore Melina Kapotsis (Watertown, Mass./Watertown). It was Szafran's fifth goal of the season and Spital's third assist.
Spital went on to add her second helper of the game and her fourth assist in the 12th minute. It was her long throw-in that reached sophomore Sapir Edalati (Great Neck, N.Y./Great Neck South) at the top of the 18. Edalati turned and fired a strike that proved to be the game-winner. It was her third goal of the season and her first career game-winner.
Edalati had another career first nearly 12 minutes later, when she registered her first multi-goal game, tapping home a perfect cross from Szafran.
The Judges added a fourth goal 5:19 into the second half, when Spital scored her team-leading ninth goal of the season as she one-timed home a cross from Szafran.
Babson (5-6-1) broke through in the 69th minute, snapping the Judges' scoreless streak at 434:23. Rookie Meghan Tyson (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) took a free kick from about 25 yards out that Brandeis sophomore Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) saved. Savuto was unable to corral the rebound, however, but senior Emily Anderson (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) was on the spot to poke home the rebound. The goal was only the third surrendered in 11 games this season by Brandeis.
The Judges outshot Babson, 26-14, for the game, including 12-7 in shots on goal. Kapotsis finished with seven saves. For Brandeis, senior Francine Kofinas (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) earned the win without making a save in the first half. Savuto had three stops and rookie Katy Lehmann (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) had two stops in her first five minutes of action of the season.
Both teams return to conference play on Saturday, with the Judges hosting Case Western Reserve University at 11 a.m. in a University Athletic Association contest and Babson at Coast Guard at 4 p.m.