WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Brandeis women's soccer team won for the eighth time in nine tries this season as the Judges went on the road to defeat Wellesley College, 1-0. With the win, the 24th-ranked Judges improve to 8-1 with their third-straight 1-0 win. The Blue see their record evened at 4-4-1. 

For the third straight game, the Judges made a first-half goal stand up. This time, it was rookie forward Holly Szafran (Newton, Mass./Newton North) who did the honors in the 16th minute. After Wellesley goalie Kat Goldsmith made the initial save on sophomore midfielder Alec Spivack (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto Senior), Szafran was there to blast home the rebound. It was her fourth goal of the season and first game-winner. 

The Judges dodged a bullet in the 25th minute. After senior Francine Kofinas (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) made the first of her three saves in the 23rd minute, Wellesley earned a penalty kick three minutes later. Unfortunately for the hosts, Megan Turchi pushed it wide right and Brandeis maintained the one-goal lead. Kofinas made two more stops to preserve the razor-thin margin at the break.

In the second half, Wellesley increased its pressure, outshooting Brandeis 10-4. The Blue put half of those shots on net, but Brandeis sophomore Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), who earlier in the day had earned University Athletic Association Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors, made five saves to allow the Judges to hang on for the win. The five stops were one shy of a career-best for Savuto. Wellesley netminders cmobined for five saves, as Goldsmith had three and Claire Cerda made two in the second half.  

For Brandeis, this was the final game before opening up UAA play at the University of Rochester on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Wellesley is also in action Saturday, taking on NEWMAC foe Smith at 12:30.