WALTHAM, Mass. - Brandeis University sophomore midfielder/forward Mimi Theodore (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) recorded her first collegiate hat trick today, leading the Judges past the visiting Clark University Cougars, 5-1, in a non-conference women's soccer matchup.
Brandeis (4-1-2) opened the scoring midway through the first half in the 27th minute. Junior forward Tiffany Pacheco (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Regional) took space after a ball was left for her by senior forward Melissa Gorenkoff (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset). Pacheco split two defenders and dribbled into the box. She fed the ball to Theodore, who chipped the ball over Cougar senior netminder Joanna Clark (Windham, Maine/Windham). Brandeis finished the half outshooting Clark, 12-4, but were only able to take the one-goal lead into the break.
The Judges scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with exactly 30 minutes left in regulation. Pacheco notched her team-leading fourth goal of the season on a nice give-and-go with sophomore midfielder Ali Theodore (Walpole, Mass./Walpole), Mimi's twin sister.
Clark (3-3) turned up their pressure in the next minute, and the Cougars' hard work in the offensive zone paid off at the 61:07 mark when Brandeis was called for a hand-ball in the box. Clark junior midfielder Laura Hedden (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) shot the ensuing penalty kick to her left, beating Brandeis senior goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River).
The Judges scored three goals in the final 10:31 of the contest to put the game away. Sophomore midfielder Alanna Torre (Weston, Fla./America Heritage School) headed home a Pacheco corner kick at 79:29 to push the lead back to two goals. Mimi Theodore and Gorenkoff combined on the final two goals. The first came at 80:40 on a long ball by Gorenkoff from midfield that Theodore one-touched home, and she completed the hat trick at the 86:03 mark by heading home a Gorenkoff cross.
Brandeis outshot Clark, 25-11, for the game. Rosenzweig earned the win with six saves, though the penalty kick denied her the opportunity to move into a first-place tie on the Judges' all-time shutout list. Joanna Clark had seven stops in the losing effort for the Cougars. The win was the 247th of the career of Brandeis women's soccer coach Denise Dallamora, who is looking to become the 15th coach in Division III women's soccer history and the second coaching in New England to reach the 250-win plateau.
The Judges, who have now outscored their opponents 16-3 at home, are next in action on Thursday when they travel to Gordon College at 3:30 p.m. Clark hosts Keene State on Wednesday at 4 p.m.