Six from women's soccer honored by UAA

All-UAA Women's Soccer: Daria Bakhtiari '21, first team; Emily Thiem '19, 2nd team; Lauren Mastandrea '22, Hannah Maatallah '19, Sasha Sunday '19, Sam Volpe '19, honorable mentions

WALTHAM, Mass. –  The Brandeis University women's soccer team had six members recognized by the University Athletic Association (UAA) on the post-season all-star teams. Sophomore midfielder Daria Bakhtiari of Wilmington, Massachusetts, was a first team selection, while senior defender Emily Thiem of Kinnelon, New Jersey, was selected to the second team.

Additionally, seniors Hannah Maatallah of Wilton, Connecticut, Sasha Sunday of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Sam Volpe of Groton, Massachusetts and rookie Lauren Mastandrea of Hauppage, New York, were honorable mentions.  

Bakhtiari earned her first career All-Association honor. She was the team's second-leading scorer this season with five goals and 11 points, including two goals and an assist in UAA play. Bakhtiari netted the game-winner in the 52nd minute of a conference win over Carnegie Mellon Oct. 6, while also scoring the winning goal on an overtime penalty kick against Tufts University on Sept. 22 in a battle of unbeaten teams at the time. She also scored a goal in a 2-1 UAA loss to Emory on Oct. 14, and assisted the game-winning goal in a 4-0 league win over Rochester on Oct. 12.

Thiem was an outside back for the Judges who started all 16 games this season and 31 contests over the past two years. She helped the Brandeis defense finish second in the conference in goals allowed overall (11) and in conference games (5). The Judges finished the regular season ranked 49th out of 432 teams in Division III in goals-against average (0.68) and 64th in shutout percentage (0.50, eight shutouts in 16 game).   

Maatallah was a second-team All-UAA midfielder a year ago who earns the honor as a defender this season. She scored one goal this season, in the Judges' 4-0 win over Rochester in conference play on Oct. 12. She has started 80 of the team's 83 games over the past four seasons.

Sunday was a first-team All-Association forward as a junior, when she led the Judges with nine goals and nine assists. This season, Sunday finished with four goals and two assists on the season to finish third on the team in scoring. Sunday netted the team's first and last goals of the regular season. She scored the opening goal in a 3-2 overtime win over MIT on Sept. 1, as well as the team's only goal in a 2-1 defeat at NYU on Nov. 3. She also scored in UAA play against the University of Rochester on Oct. 12. Sunday has 17 goals and 11 assists in her career.

Volpe, a forward, earned her first career All-Association honor. She had three goals and an assist for seven points this season, tied for fourth on the team in scoring. After missing the first two games of the season, she came back and played the final 14, making 10 starts. All three of her goals were game-winners in 1-0 contests: against Eastern Connecticut State on Sept. 11; at Babson on Sept. 15; and in a key UAA win at Chicago on Oct. 28. Brandeis's first in the Windy City since 2008. The goals were the first three of her career.

Mastandrea led Brandeis with four assists this season as a rookie, all four of which came in conference play. No other UAA player had more than two helpers in league games. She assisted goals in wins over Case Western Reserve on Sept. 29, Rochester on Oct. 12 and Chicago on Oct. 28 and in a loss to Emory on Oct. 14. Mastandrea played in all 16 games as a rookie, including four starts.

The Brandeis women's soccer team, in head coach Denise Dallamora's 38th season on the sideline, finished the regular season with 12-4 record, 4-3 and tied for fourth place in the UAA. The Judges earned a fifth-straight bid into the NCAA Division III tournament. They will meet Farmingdale (N.Y.) State College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in their opening round match.

Bakhtiari is a 2017 graduate of Central Catholic School.

Thiem is a 2015 graduate of Kinnelon High School.

Maatallah is a 2015 graduate of Wilton High School.

Sunday is a 2015 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School.

Volpe is a 2015 graduate of Groton School.

Mastandrea is a 2018 graduate of Hauppage High School.

 

For more information on Brandeis women's soccer, please visit our web site at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/wsoc/index