#19 women's soccer season comes to a close in NCAA 1st round against #25 Farmingdale State, 1-0

Lauren Mastandrea '22 (photo courtesy TCNJ)
Lauren Mastandrea '22 (photo courtesy TCNJ)

TRENTON, N.J. – One fluky shot proved to be the difference today as the 19th-ranked Brandeis University women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 defeat to #25 Farmingdale (N.Y.) State College in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament today. With the loss, the Judges' season comes to a close with a 12-5 record, while the Rams improve to 17-3-3 and move on to face host and eighth-ranked College of New Jersey tomorrow at 1 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Judges maintained the majority of possession in the offensive zone and outshot the Rams, 13-3 – 7-3 in the first half and 6-0 in the second.
  • The lone goal of the game came in the 43rd minute of action. FSC's Tara Lyons got to a loose ball in the Brandeis defensive zone. She dribbled to about the 25-yard line and unleashed a shot. It deflected off a defender and went up, hitting the underside of the crossbar. The assistant referee judged that it crossed the line, giving the Rams the 1-0 lead.
  • The Judges had several chances to equalize in the second half. They won two corner kicks in the early going, with senior Sasha Sunday (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) getting a head on the ball in the 54th minute.
  • In the 71st minute, junior Katie Hayes (Eau Claire, Wisc./Regis H.S.) also had a head stopped by Farmingdale State's Daniella Ford.
  • Brandeis had two final attempts in the final minute of play, but Becca Buchman (Rockville Centre, N.Y. / South Side) shot high from just outside the boxt, while a last-second free kick by Emily Thiem (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) was plucked out of harms way by Ford, securing the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • In addition to their shooting advantage, Brandeis had six corner kicks to three for the Rams.
  • Junior Sierra Dana (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) had two saves in the first half, suffering the loss for the Judges. Classmate Victoria Richardson (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) played the second half and did not have to make save.
  • Brandeis rookie Lauren Mastandrea (Hauppage, N.Y./Hauppage) led Brandeis with three shots taken.
  • Ford made six saves to earn the win for Farmingdale State.