WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University senior Tzlil Castel (Boston, Mass.) scored her second game-winning goal of the season as the top-seeded Judges defeated No. 5 seed MIT, 1-0, in the semifinals of the ECAC Division III New England championships on Gordon Field this afternoon.

Brandeis (12-6-2) and MIT (13-7) battled to a scoreless tie in the first half, despite the Judges' 8-1 shooting advantage. MIT got a quick start with possession in the second half, getting off an early shot on net, but it was the hosts who took control with the game's first goal.

Senior midfielder Lizzie Bremner (San Rafael, Calif.) sent a beautiful long ball from midfield to sophomore Melissa Gorenkoff (Woodbury, N.Y.). Gorenkoff took a couple of touches into the box, where she crossed to Castel, who buried the goal at 60:23. The goal tied Castel with Gorenkoff and senior Sarah Jasak (Middletown, N.J.) for the team lead with eight on the season.

MIT had a couple of chances to tie score late in the game, but Brandeis sophomore Hillary Rosenzweig (Boca Raton, Fla.) made two of her five saves after the Judges had taken the lead to preserve the lead. The Brandeis defense of junior Meredith Milstein (Waterford, Mich.), sophomore Abby Shields (Lancaster, Mass.) and rookies Taryn Martiniello (Wilmington, Mass.) and Ruth Orbach (Bellevue, Wash.) were instrumental in keeping MIT leading scorers Liz Theurer (Gainesville, Fla.) and Amy Ludlum (Mission Viejo, Calif.) to just four shots on goal.

Engineer junior Stephanie Brenman (Newton, Mass.) had six saves for the visitors.

Brandeis will host the championship match tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Judges will face third-seeded Keene State College, who defeated No. 2 Roger Williams University, 2-1, on the road today.