This might have been the most dramatic game ever played on Gordon Field.
After winning their opener and advancing on penalty kicks in the second round in games played on the road, Brandeis Women's Soccer were unlikely sectional hosts, with top-ranked and undefeated William Smith College in their bracket. With the Herons and Amherst College both hosting other NCAA events that weekend, the Judges defeated McDaniel College on a late Samantha Schwartz '18 goal to reach their second Elite Eight. Standing in the way of Denise Dallamora's first Final Four berth was William Smith, who entered the tournament having allowed only four goals all season.
The visitors looked to live up to their billing, taking a 2-0 lead on a goal in the 74th minute, but the Judges were unwilling to concede so easily on their home field. Lea McDaniel scored just 32 seconds after WSC took their two goal lead to breathe life into the Brandeis offense. In the 82nd minute, Schwartz scored her third goal in four tournament games, tying the contest at 2-all. Just 40 seconds after that, Senior Julia McDermott pounced on a rebound and scored her first career goal to put Brandeis ahead, 3-2. Not to be outdone, the Herons scored with just 3.7 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. On Brandeis's first foray into the WSC zone, the Herons were whistled for a hand ball. After a strong wind blew the ball from its spot twice, on her third attempt at a free kick, All-America defender Michaela Friedman '17 put the ball on net, and Jessica Morana '17 knocked the ball in while lying on the ground to give the Judges the golden goal.
Brandeis advanced to their first-ever national semifinals in Salem, Virginia, joining the men as the ninth Division III program to send the men and women to the Final Four in the same season.
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