WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team has earned a second-straight berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Judges (14-2-3) will meet Western Connecticut State University (16-5-1) at Amherst College at 1:30 p.m. The winner will meet the winner of the match between host Amherst and Colby-Sawyer on Sunday at 1 p.m.
This marks the fifth overall NCAA tournament bid for the Judges in head coach Denise Dallamora's 36th year at the helm. It is the first time they will be making back-to-back trips, having previously earned berths in 1988, 2010, 2012 and 2014. Each of Brandeis's tournament berths have been at-large, with this year's squad finishing 3-2-2 and in fourth place in the University Athletic Association, with all three teams that finished ahead of them also making it to the field of 64.
Brandeis is ranked 11th in Division III by the NSCAA and 14th by D3soccer.com. They will be riding a stingy defense to the tournament. The Judges have recorded shutouts in 12 of their 19 matches so far, the second-most in school history, while their eight goals allowed and 0.41 goals-against average are on pace for their lowest ever. Brandeis starting goalkeeper Alexis Grossman (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) owns a 0.35 GAA, second-lowest in the UAA and the lowest in program history. She is fronted by a veteran defensive line: senior Haley Schachter (W. Barnstable, Mass./W. Barnstable) and junior Michaela Friedman (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. / Comsewogue) in the center and junior Julia McDermott (Hopedale, Mass. / Hopedale) and rookie Hannah Maatallah (Wilton, Conn. / Wilton) on the outside.
Offensively, senior midfielder Holly Szafran (Homewood, Ala./Newton North) leads the team in scoring with six goals and four assists for 16 points, one ahead of junior forward Lea McDaniel (Phoenix, Ariz./Chapparal), who has six goals and three assists.
The Judges will meet Western Connecticut State University, who won the Little East Conference championship, in the first round. The Colonials are led by sophomore Autumn Sorice (11 G-6 A-28 P) and senior Kelsey Chacho (9 G-3A-21 P). Sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Fernandez has a 0.82 goals-against average with seven shutouts this season.
The teams had one common opponent this season, UMass Boston. Brandeis defeated the Beacons, 1-0, on Sept. 12, while WCSU had two wins against them, 2-1 in double overtime in the regular season, and 1-0 in the Little East tournament. Western Conn. is riding an eight-match winning streak, while Brandeis is 3-0-2 in their last five matches. The Judges are 5-2 against other teams in the NCAA tournament field, while WCSU is 1-0.
Also at the Amherst site are the host Lord Jeffs (10-3-2), at-large selections from the NESCAC, and Colby-Sawyer College (13-3-2), champions of the North Atlantic Conference. The last time Brandeis advanced past the second round of the tournament in 2012, they also played at Amherst.
Tickets will be $6 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and college students and $2 for children between the ages of 2 and 13.
For more information on Brandeis Athletics, please visit brandeisjudges.com or follow us on Twitter or Instagram @brandeisjudges, or follow us on Facebook.
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