NEWTON, Mass. (Info taken from a Lasell press release) – Brandeis University junior Hannah Maatallah (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) contributed a goal and an assist today as the sixth-ranked Brandeis University women's soccer team overcame local rival Lasell College, 5-3, in a non-conference contest today on Taylor Field.
The Judges bounce back from a 3-2 loss to MIT on Friday night to move to 1-1. Lasell falls to 0-1.
A balanced offense led the Judges to victory, as the visitors saw goals from Maatallah, seniors Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) and Haliana Burhans (Charlotte, Vt./Champlain Valley Union), and rookie Mackenzie Smith (Northborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional).
Sophomore Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) scored two goals in the effort, while classmate Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.) accounted for the home team's remaining marker.
The Lasers struck just three minutes in for the first goal against the Judges since the 2015 season. Senior Casey Meissner (Sandwich, Mass.) laid down a textbook through-ball between the Judges' defense, that Rotonnelli put away in the bottom left corner. Maatallah evened the scoring at one-all, on an upper 90 strike with 29 minutes left to play in the first half.
As the rain poured down on Taylor Field, Zdanek scored her first goal on a follow-through to net, giving the Lasers the 2-1 advantage. The Judges again answered with the equalizer, a breakaway to the lower left corner from Schwartz, as both teams headed into halftime with two goals apiece. The goal was Schwartz's second of the season and seventh in her last eight games dating back to last season's NCAA tournament.
Brandeis put away the first of their three second half goals at 51:02 on a defensive miscue by the Lasell defense. The scoreboard read 4-2 just six minutes later as they Judges converted on a set play directed by junior Sasha Sunday's (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) corner kick. Zdanek pulled the home team within one on her second goal of the game, another follow-through from a rebound for the 4-3 score, but Burhans put the game out of reach with 18 left to go - her second goal of the season and third-straight game with a goal going back to last season's NCAA semifinals - for the 5-3 final.
Brandeis held an 18-11 advantage in shots, as Lasell goalkeeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) stopped eight of 13 shots faced. Brandeis sophomore Sierra Dana (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) made four stops in the winning effort, her first collegiate victory.
Brandeis hosts Bridgewater State on Tuesday, September 5th for their home opener under the lights at 7:00 p.m. The Lasers are back in action on Wednesday, September 6 as they hit the road to Keene, N.H. for a non-conference affair with the Owls at 6:00 p.m.