MANSFIELD, Conn. (taken from an ECSU press release) -- The Brandeis University women's soccer team reached the 10-win plateau for the eighth season in a row today thanks to a pair of goals, one early and one late, against host Eastern Connecticut State University in a non-conference road game for the Judges today. With the win, Brandeis improves to 10-5-0, while the Warriors fall to 5-11-0.
The Judges got all the scoring they would need less than three minutes into the game. Brandeis, a winner of four straight against Eastern (three by shutout) capitalized on the first chance of the game when senior Katie Hayes (Eau Claire, Wisc./Regis H.S.) netted her second goal of the season. Hayes found room in the box and knocked in a long free-kick by rookie defender Caroline Swan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine Richlands) just 2:27 into the contest. Swan took the free kick from 40 yards after junior teammate Daria Bakhtiari (Wilmington, Mass./Central Catholic) was tripped hard from behind. Swan unloaded a perfect ball into the box, where the 5-foot-7 inch Hayes leaped high above two defenders – and above the late charge of Eastern keeper Alexis Tyrrell -- from 12 yards and dropped it under the crossbar into the lower left back of the net. It was Swan's fourth assist of the year.
For the game, Brandeis outshot ECSU, 29-1, but the hosts got a career-high 16 saves from Tyrell to keep the Judges – ranked ninth in New England – from inflicting further damage until just 44.5 remained when sophomore forward Juliette Carreiro (Upton, Mass./Nipmuc Regional) snuck one underneath Tyrrell on the left post to close out the scoring.
With the win, the Judges improved to 10-0 against teams outside of the United Soccer Coaches' top 25. Brandeis has won six straight on the road since opening with a 4-0 loss at MIT, New England's top-ranked team.
Brandeis senior keeper Victoria Richardson (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) did not make a save in recording her fourth shutout in 15 starts.
The Judges close out their campaign with three-straight University Athletic Association contests, including the next two on the road, starting Friday, November 1, at Emory University, ranked #22 nationally by D3Soccer.com.