WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team won its fifth-straight contest today, defeating Gordon College, 4-0, at home. The win, the second-straight shutout for the Judges, improved the home team to 5-1. The Fighting Scots see a five-match win streak of their own snapped, as they fall to 5-2.
Brandeis got the only scoring they would need in less than four minutes before halftime. After a Judge corner kick resulted in a scramble in front of the net, the ball settled on the foot of senior Sapir Edalati (Great Neck, N.Y./Great Neck South). Edalati's first attempt was cleared off the line by a Gordon defender, but the rebound came right back to her, and Edalati deposited it in the back of the net for her third goal of the season.
The Judges added their first insurance goal less than five minutes into the second half. Junior Holly Szafran (Homewood, Ala./Newton (Mass.) North) sent a beautiful lead pass down the center of the field to rookie Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park). Schwartz turned her defender around, dribbled into the box and beat the keeper inside the left post for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Brandeis added two more goals. In the 68th minute, sophomore Lea McDaniel (Phoenix, Ariz./Chapparal) scored her first collegiate goal when she helped a shot from rookie Haliana Burhans (Charlotte, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) across the line. The assist was Burhans' second of the season. In the 86th minute, Szafran connected with Edalati in the midfielder. The senior dribbled and made an excellent move around her defender before blasting home her second of the game and fourth of the season.
It marked the fourth multi-goal game of Edalati's career. She now ranks among the top 15 in career points (55), goals (22) and assists (11).
For the game, Brandeis outshot Gordon by a 32-5 margin, including 14-1 in shots on goal. Junior Christina Martin (San Diego, Calif./River Valley Charter) led the Fighting Scots with two shots and the only one on net. Classmate McKenzie Dion (North Grafton, Mass./Whitinsville Christian) had nine saves in the losing effort for Gordon. Brandeis senior Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) went the distance, making one stop for her ninth career shutout.
Brandeis returns to action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. against 5-1 Lesley University.