ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Brandeis women's soccer team earned its first University Athletic Association (UAA) victory of 2009 today, reaching a pair of milestones and snapping a pair of significant streaks in a 4-2 win at Emory University. The Judges improved to 7-4-3 (1-2-1 UAA) as head coach Denise Dallamora, in her 30th season, became the 16th coach in Division III women's soccer history to reach the 250-win plateau. The Eagles fell to 4-3-5 (0-2-2 UAA).
The other significant milestone belonged to senior forward Melissa Gorenkoff (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset), who finished with a goal and an assist on the afternoon. Gorenkoff and the Judges got off to a flying start, as she assisted junior Tiffany Pacheco (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) just 3:40 into the contest. The assist was the 24th of Gorenkoff's career, surpassing Kelly Vaughan '88 on the Judges' career list. Brandeis outshot Emory, 16-4, in the first half, but the Eagles were able to carry a 1-1 tie into the half thanks to a 27th-minute corner kick off the foot of junior Talia Dweck. It was deflected by Katy Kruse to sophomore Caroline Coates, who converted the equalizer for her second of the season. Emory netminder Kirsten Baecher made eight saves to keep the hosts in the game.
Brandeis kept its pressure up in the second half and the floodgates opened in the 58th minute, as the Judges scored three goals in a nine-minute span. Sophomore midfielder Mimi Theodore (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) reclaimed the team lead from Pacheco with her seventh goal of the season when junior Sofia Vallone (Westport, Conn./Staples) sent a ball towards the goal that Baecher misplayed when she came off her line. Theodore was on the spot to head it home and give the Judges a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Gorenkoff scored the eventual game-winner at the 64:24 mark. Baecher made another misjudgement, and the senior made her pay with her third goal of the season. The goal also moved her into a tie for seventh place on the career points list with 70 and 10th with 23 career goals. Theodore added her eighth of the season just 3:30 later, converting a free kick from rookie back Stevie Phillis (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South). With the goal, Theodore took the team scoring lead from Pacheco with 20 points.
Emory got a goal back with just under 10 minutes left in regulation, but were unable to get any closer. Senior Hillary Rosenzweig (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River) finished with four saves and tied for Brandeis's career lead with 34 victories.
The win for the Judges snapped a 27-match home unbeaten streak for Emory. The Eagles were 22-0-5 dating back to Oct. 27, 2006. It was Brandeis's first win over EU since a 2-0 win in Atlanta in 2003.
Next up for the Judges is a non-conference contest at Bowdoin College on Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. before a three-match UAA homestand to close out the season.