WALTHAM, Mass. — The Brandeis University women's soccer team dropped its 2014 home opener tonight to MIT, 1-0. The Judges fell in their first attempt of the season to give head coach Denise Dallamora her 300th career victory.
MIT (1-0) got all the scoring they would need in the 13th minute. The Engineers put on some sustained pressure, with Brandeis senior Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) making a nice diving stop at the left post on MIT senior Ambika Krishnamachar (Darien, Conn./Phillips Acad.) in the ninth minute. Savuto knocked away the ensuing corner kick, but the visitors did not all Brandeis to clear the ball. Eventually, a giveaway in the defensive zone found the feet of rookie Olivia Struckman (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral). Struckman lofted the ball into the upper-right corner from just outside the box to give MIT the game-winner.
Brandeis got some pressure late in the game, but the Judges were never able to get a good attempt on MIT sophomore Lauren Ullman (Princeton, N.J./Princeton). Ullman denied Judge sophomore reserve Michaela Friedman (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y./Comsewogue) in the first half and junior Holly Szafran (Newton, Mass./Newton North) in the second, but both saves were routine. The Engineers outshot Brandeis, 9-5, for the game, with Krishnamachar and Struckman accounting for four each. Five different Brandeis players had shots.
The win snapped a three-match losing streak for MIT against Brandeis. It was also the third-straight game in the series decided by a 1-0 score.
Dallamora will try to become the third coach in New England Division III to reach the 300-win plateau on Sunday at Clark University at 1 p.m. MIT hosts Rensselaer tomorrow at 4 p.m.