WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team scored in the 34th minute and the Judges made the goal stand up as they defeated Lesley University, 1-0, on Gordon Field tonight. The win was the 11th shutout of the season for the Judges, tying a school record, established in three previous seasons. Brandeis improves to 11-3-1, snapping a two-match losing streak, while Lesley's eight-match unbeaten and five-match winning streaks are halted as the Lynx fall to 11-2-2.
Brandeis outshot Lesley, 15-6 for the contest, including 8-2 in the first half. Three of those shots came in quick succession around the 20-minute mark, when Judge midfielder Alyssa Fenenbock (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) hit a post and was denied by a Lesley defender on the rebound. Lynx sophomore Emileigh Lloyd (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) recovered to turn back another shot by junior Mary Shimko (Bay Village, Ohio/Lake Ridge Acad.), keeping the game scoreless.
The Judges finally broke through in the 34th minute after drawing a foul 20 yards from goal on the right side of the field. Sophomore Alec Spivack (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto Senior), playing her first game of the season at left back, switched sides and waited for Lesley's four-person wall to get set 10 yards out. Spivack then bent the free kick around the wall and inside the far left post for the first goal of her collegiate career.
That was all the hosts would need, as they held the Lynx to just one shot on goal the rest of the way. Senior Francine Kofinas (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) and sophomore Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) made one save each in their respective halves of play. Kofinas denied LU's Hayley Wirth (Escondido, Calif./La Costa Canyon) in the 19th minute, while Savuto made a nice diving stab on Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J./Lenape Valley) in the 77th minute. Their 11 combined shutouts match the 1990, 2003 and 2008 teams for most in a season, with four regular-season matches remaining.
Lloyd made five saves for Lesley. The goal she surrendered was just her fifth all season, snapping a six-match shutout streak.
Brandeis plays its final nonconference game of the season next Tuesday evening at home at 7 p.m. against Lasell. Lesley travels to Elms College for an NECC match Saturday at 1 p.m.
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