Sierra Dana '20 (photo by Sportspix/Mike Tureski)
Posted: Sep 23, 2017
WALTHAM, Mass. – In an evenly played contest on Gordon Field today, the Brandeis University women's soccer team came away with a 1-1 draw against visiting Tufts University. The Judges, ranked 15th in Division III by D3soccer.com and 25th by the United Soccer Coaches, see a six-match winning streak snapped as they move to 6-1-1 on the season. The Jumbos continued to alternate wins and ties this season as they move to 3-0-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Tufts opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Junior Alessandra Sadler (Atkinson, N.H./Central Catholic) dribbled along the end line and sent a cross through the box. Brandeis sophomore keeper Sierra Dana (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) dove to intercept but couldn't control the ball. Rookie Sophie Lloyd (Los Altos, Calif./Homestead) was there to knock it home for her team-leading third goal of the season.
- The Jumbos controlled the bulk of play in the first half, outshooting the Judges, 8-5.
- In the second stanza, Brandeis evened the shots total (7-5) and broke through with an equalizing goal on the counter-attack.
- Senior forward Haliana Burhans (Charlotte, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) stepped in front of a Tufts clearance attempt and dribbled into the heart of the defense. She sent a through-ball to junior Sasha Sunday (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), who one-timed it home for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
- Tufts nearly equalized on their next foray into Brandeis territory in the 61st minute, when Lloyd hit the post and rookie Elizabeth Reed (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) knocked the rebound just high.
- In the 63rd minute, Sunday had a chance for a go-ahead score, but Tufts' sophomore Tally Clark (Seattle, wash./Lakeside School) cleared the ball off the line.
- In the overtime sessions, Brandeis's Dana made a couple of game-saving stops.
- In the 97th minute, she got back in front of an open net to deny Mariah Harvey-Brown (Mill Valley, Calif./Urban School of San Francisco) after Lloyd's cross slipped through.
- In the 101st minute, she drove to her right to knock Sarah Grubman's (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River) attempt wide of the post.
- Brandeis's best effort in the overtime came on the first attempt, when senior Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) was thwarted by Jumbo junior Emily Bowers (Needham, Mass./Needham).
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Tufts owned a slight edge in shots, 17-15, and corner kicks, 5-4.
- The Jumbos were also whistled for 15 fouls to seven for the Judges.
- Dana's six saves matched her career-high. Three of those stops came in overtime.
- Bowers finished with five saves for the visitors.
- Brandeis's Sunday has now scored a goal in five of the last six games. Three of her goals have been game-winners, while the other two were equalizers.
- This marked the second year in a row that the teams battled to a 1-1 draw.
UP NEXT
- Brandeis plays host to Wellesley College in a non-conference game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before heading to Case Western Reserve for their UAA opener next Sunday at 1:30.
- Tufts is at MIT on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.