WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team got a goal in the 63rd minute and made it stand up today as the Judges defeated rival New York University, 1-0, in the University Athletic Association season finale. With the win, the Judges finish up with an 11-7 overall record, 2-5 in the UAA, while the Violets' wind up with the same mark. Both teams wind up in a three-way tie for fifth place in the conference.
The game-winning goal came on a set piece at the 62:55 mark. Rookie midfielder Caroline Swan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine Richland) delivered a ball into the box from the left flank, and junior midfielder Daria Bakhtiari (Wilmington, Mass./Central Catholic) was wide open to head it into the upper left corner. The goal was Bakhtiari's sixth of the season, while the assist was Swan's fifth, tying her for the team lead.
The Judges continued their pressure, ending up with an 11-6 shot advantage in the second half, and 17-11, for the game. Brandeis senior Victoria Richardson (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) made a great diving save on the right post in the 76th minute against NYU's Hadley Bushala to preserve the clean sheet. The Violets denied an insurance goal in the 87th minute when Francesca Dimitrakis cleared one off the line on a corner kick.
The first half was evenly played, with Brandeis owning a slim 6-5 edge in shots. The Judges put three of their shots on goal to just one for NYU.
Richardson finished with three saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season and her career. Meghan Marhan made seven stops in the losing effort for the Violets.
The win gave Brandeis 11 wins in a season for the sixth year in a row. They improve to 16-5-4 all-time against NYU.
Prior to the game, the Judges honored their seven seniors:
- Goalkeeper Sierra Dana (Lombard, Illinois/Glenbard East)
- Midfielder Katie Hayes (Eau Claire, Wisconsin/Regis)
- Defender Amanda Fernbach (Long Beach, California/Lakewood)
- Midfielder Kerin Miller (Marlboro, New Jersey/Marlboro)
- Midfielder Zoe Ballas ( Scarsdale, New York/Edgemont)
- Goalkeeper Victoria Richardson (Tolland, Connecticut/Tolland)
- Midfielder Emma Spector (Needham, Massachusetts/Needham)