WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team controlled play for much of the game and came away with a 1-0 victory over visiting UMass Boston today on Gordon Field thanks to a second-half goal by senior Makenna Hunt (Tynsborough, Mass./Tyngsborough). With the win, the Judges improve to 4-1-2 on the campaign, while the Beacons fall to 5-2-1. Both teams were regionally ranked by the United Soccer Coaches this week, with the Judges sitting second in Region 2 and the Beacons eighth in Region 1.
Brandeis outshot UMB by a 30-4 margin for the game, including 13-2 in the first half. Beacon junior Maria Spylios made four saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep the game even. Her best stops came in the 10th and 11th minutes, diving at the far post to deny Brandeis junior Caroline Swan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine Richland) and then corralling a long shot from Juliette Carreiro (Upton, Mass./Nipmuc Regional) on the ensuing corner kick. Meanwhile, Brandeis first-year Hannah Bassan (Aventura, Fla./NSU University School) had two stops for the hosts, on a header off a corner by Cal Pitts in the 15th minute and a long free kick from Kelly McNeil in the 23rd.
Brandeis took the first seven shots of the second half before finally breaking the ice. Hunt's goal came off a nice pass from junior Meaghan McDonough (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) that found its way through a crowd. Hunt finished into the upper netting for her third goal of the season and the 11th of her career. It was her first game-winner of the season and the fifth of her career.
UMB got off two more shots in the game, including one on goal in the 75th minute, but it was handled easily by Bassan. Judge senior Daria Bakhtiari (Wilmington, Mass./Central Catholic) nearly doubled the lead in the 86th minute, but clanged a shot from the top of the box off the right post.
Bassan finished with three saves for the Judges in earning her second solo shutout and the team's fourth clean sheet of the season. Spyrios finished with a season-high seven saves for the Beacons in the losing effort.
Brandeis returns to action next Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. when they play host to Lesley University. UMass Boston takes on Plymouth State at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Little East Conference action.