ROCHESTER, N.Y (taken from a Rochester press release) – The Brandeis University women's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to 12 in a row tonight as the Judges defeated the University of Rochester, 1-0, in a University Athletic Association contest in Fauver Stadium tonight. The Judges, ranked #16 nationally in Division III by D3soccer.com and#22 by the United Soccer Coaches, improved to 10-1-2 overall, 2-0-1 in the University Athletic Association. Brandeis is unbeaten (10-0-2) since losing its season opener. Rochester falls to 6-5-1 overall, 0-3 in the UAA.
The goal came five minutes into the second half. Brandeis junior forward Sasha Sunday (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) dribbled across the top of the penalty arc (right to left) and pushed a short pass about six yards farther back to sophomore back Katie Hayes (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis H.S.), coming in from the left side. Hayes hit a hard shot directly at the center of the goal. It was parried by Rochester goalkeeper Emma Campbell, but struck so firmly that it popped free and dribbled over the goal line. The goal was Hayes's 2nd of the season, while the assist was Sunday's eighth, second-most in the UAA.
Sunday nearly wrote her name into the goalscorer's ledger 10 minutes into the second half. Senior Haliana Burhans (Charlotte, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) drove a ball over from right wing. Campbell dove to parry it but missed and the ball skipped away before Sunday could reach it.
She did figure in another scoring chance for the guests in the 77th minute. She lined a low shot at Campbell who bobbled it, then dove to cover it up as sophomore Zoe Ballas (Scarsdale, N.Y./Edgemont) rushed in looking for the rebound, but wound up falling into the back of the net.
Rochester had some chances in both halves. In the first 45 mintues, a long ball meant for Emily Tompkins was a little too far. Brandeis junior Julia Jaffe (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage) was able to shield her from it while goalkeeper Sierra Dana (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) came out to make the save.
Dana was challenged in a different way about a minute later. Rochester's Meghan Martin floated a long ball over from left wing that Dana caught, just under the crossbar. With seven minutes left, Liz Mastoloni's corner kick was palmed away from a packed goalmouth and cleared, keeping the Yellowjackets off the scoreboard.
Campbell produced an excellent save with just under six minutes on the clock. Brandeis was awarded a penalty kick when the Yellowjackets were whistled for tripping in the box. Junior Hannah Maatallah (Wilton, Conn./Wilton), who drew the foul, was designated to take the PK. She fired the ball for the top left corner, but Campbell dove to catch it, drawing a roar of approval from the crowd of 165.
Brandeis plays their final UAA road game of the season on Sunday as the Judges head to Atlanta to meet Emory at 1:30 p.m. The Judges will look to match last season's 12-0-1 start for the longest single-season unbeaten streak in program history. The Judges had a 16-match unbeaten string at the end of 2003 (5-0-3) and start of 2004 (8-0-0).