#20 women fall to Chicago, 6-1

Sapir Edalati '15 (Photo courtesy Sportspix.biz)
Sapir Edalati '15 (Photo courtesy Sportspix.biz)

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The #20 Brandeis University women's soccer team suffered its first road loss of the season this afternoon, falling to host University of Chicago, 6-1, in a University Athletic Association contest. The Judges see a six-match unbeaten streak snapped and fall to 10-2-1, 1-1-1 in the UAA, while Chicago earns its first league win and improves to 8-4, 1-2-0 UAA.

Brandeis struck first in the ninth minute on the second of successive corner kicks. After sophomore Alec Spivack (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto Senior) sent her attempt high on a first kick from junior Mary Shimko's (Bay Village, Ohio/Lake Ridge Acad.), the second one found the head of sophomore forward Sapir Edalati (Great Neck, N.Y./Great Neck South). Edalati buried it for her fifth of the season, second on the team. 

Unfortunately for the Judges, Chicago equalized 1:34 later, when Julia Ozello converted a cross from Meghan Derken. Derken then scored the game-winning goal in the 17th minute with an assist from Sarah Kwan. The goal marked the first time this season that Brandeis allowed two goals in a half. UC opened the floodgates in the second half, scoring four more goals, including one more each by Ozello and Derken, who each finished with five points, and one by Kwan, who had four points.

The six goals allowed represent twice as many as the Judges had allowed in the rest of the season. Senior Francine Kofinas (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) made four saves in the first half but suffered the loss, while sophomore Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) had two stops in the second half.

The Judges will look to bounce back on Sunday afternoon at #5 Washington University at noon (Eastern).