WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team has earned a postseason berth for the 10th time in the past 11 years, with the Judges earning the second seed in the 2013 ECAC Division III New England tournament. Brandeis will play host to Castleton State College on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.
With a record of 10-6-2, Brandeis returns to the ECAC tournament for the first time since 2009 after making NCAA appearances in 2010 and 2012 and missing the postseason in 2011. In Denise Dallamora's 34th season on the sidelines, the Judges will be making their 11th ECAC appearance. Brandeis won the ECAC title in 2007 and 2008 and were runners-up in 2009.
The Judges, who were ranked as high as eighth in the nation in Division III by the NSCAA this season, placed fifth in the University Athletic Association (UAA) behind four NCAA tournament squads. Junior forward Sapir Edalati of Great Neck, N.Y., will be the team's top scorer in the playoffs with eight goals – tied for fourth in the UAA - and two assists for 18 points. Classmate Michelle Savuto of Ridgewood, N.J., owns a 1.08 goals-against average with a .798 save percentage and eight shutouts this season. She helped to break the team's single-season record for shutouts with 14 a year ago as the Judges made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
Castleton State enters the match with a record of 13-8-1 under ninth-year head coach Chris Chapdelaine. The Spartans return to the ECAC tournament first time since 2009 after a string of three-straight North Atlantic Conference titles took them to the NCAAs. This season, CSC is led by sophomore Mallory Costello, who has 18 goals and 10 assists for 46 points, all tops in the NAC this season. Rookie Dominique Valancius was the NAC Rookie of the Year with 16 goals and seven assists for 39 points.
Brandeis and Castleton State have met twice before, both times in the postseason. In a previous ECAC meeting in 2009, Brandeis ousted CSC in the quarterfinals, 3-0. The teams also met in the 2010 NCAA tournament, with Brandeis taking a 2-1 decision.
The lone common opponent for the two teams in UMass Boston. Both Brandeis and Castleton State dropped 2-1 overtime decisions to the Beacons.
Other ECAC quarterfinal matchups feature top-seeded Roger Williams hosting No. 8 Elms; third-seeded Wheaton College taking on No. 6 Eastern Nazarene; and No. 4 Framingham State playing fifth-seeded Albertus Magnus. Game times and the site of the semifinals and finals are to be determined.
For more information about Brandeis women's soccer, please visit our web site at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/wsoc.