TRENTON, N.J. (info taken from a TCNJ press release)– The 23^rd-ranked Brandeis University women's soccer team scored a goal late in regulation against 5th-ranked College of New Jersey to tie the game at 1-1 force overtime in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament today. Neither team scored a golden goal, and the Judges went on to outscore the Lions, 4-2, on penalty kicks - thanks to a pair of Alexis Grossman (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) saves - to advance to the Sweet 16 of the tournament for the second year in a row. Brandeis moves to 14-3-4 on the campaign, while TCNJ's campaign comes to a close at 17-1-2.

The Judges will meet McDaniel (Md.) College next weekend at a site to be determined.

HOW IT HAPPENED - REGULATION

• The Judges fell behind in the 27^th minute a goal by TCNJ junior Elizabeth Thoresen (Colts Neck, N.J./Red Bank Catholic). Lion senior Christine Levering (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) gained possession and slotted a through ball from the left side. Thoresen got behind the defense, took a touch, and blistered a shot to the near post upper corner to put the Lions up 1-0. It was the 10th goal of the season for Thoresen.
• TCNJ nearly made it 2-0 minutes later when junior Kayla Bertolino (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) found daylight near the top right corner of the box. She rifled a shot that banged off the crossbar and back into play.
• Brandeis had two legitimate scoring chances in the second half. Judge junior Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) fired a shot from the top of the box that Lions' goalkeeper Jessica Weeder (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) tipped over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick, sophomore midfielder Hannah Maatallah (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) knocked a header from the far post just over the top of the crossbar.
• Play was physical in the second half. TCNJ had a few chances, but couldn't extend the lead. The Judges' back line did a solid job in keeping Brandeis within striking distance.
• Finally, with just 4:07 left in regulation, Schwartz capitalized with a terrific shot off a loose ball from the top of the box, rippling the back of the net for her ninth goal of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED – OVERTIMES

• Each team had two shots in overtime, while the Judges had four corner kicks in the last 20 minutes.
• The lone save in the extra sessions came from Grossman with 1:45 left in the second OT period to force the game to penalties.

HOW IT HAPPENED – SHOOTOUT

• The Judges fell behind after missing their first PK attempt and the Lions made their first.
• Rookie Katie Hayes (Eau Claire, Wisc. / Regis H.S.) got the Judges on the board, but the Lions answered to take a 2-1 lead.
• Maatallah, who scored two goals in the opening round knotted the shootout at 2-2, and Grossman responded with her first save of the shootout.
• Sophomore Emily Thiem (Kinnelon, N.J. / Kinnelon) put Brandeis ahead in the fourth round, and Grossman denied the equalizer, giving Brandeis a 3-2 lead headed into the fifth round.
• Senior Cidney Moscovitch (Coral Glades, Fla./Coral Springs) buried her attempt, clinching the match, 4-2, and advancing the Judges.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Judges outshot the home team, 13-10, for the match, but shots on goal were 3-2 in favor of the Lions.
• Grossman made two stops in regulation, plus the two huge PK stops. Weeder had one save for the home team.
• TCNJ owned a 7-6 edge in corner kicks, but it was 5-1 for Brandeis after the first half.
• The Lions committed 16 fouls to eight for the Judges.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Brandeis advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2015 in nearly the same fashion – going on the road  to win their opener and defeating a team on its home turf in PKs. Grossman made two saves in the shootout against Amherst College last year as well.
• The Judges are making their third all-time Sweet 16 appearance, reaching the Elite Eight in 2012.
• This marks the second year in a row that both the Brandeis men and women reached the second weekend of play. The men defeated St. Joseph's (Maine) today, 3-0.

UP NEXT

• The #23 Judges will take on #15 McDaniel (Md.) College for the first time in program history.
• The sectional also features top-ranked William Smith, who eliminated the Judges last year, 2-1, in overtime, and #13 Amherst, who Brandeis dismissed on PKs in 2015.