WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University women's soccer junior forward Sasha Sunday (Bethlehem, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) registered her first career hat trick and added an assist for a seven-point game tonight as the Judges defeated Westfield State University, 4-1, in a non-conference matchup on Gordon Field. With the win, the Judges, ranked No. 21 in the nation by D3soccer.com, improve to 11-2-2 on the season. The Owls fall to 7-5-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sunday opened the scoring in the 11^th minute, when senior Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) sent her a short corner. Sunday dribbled into the box and launched a shot that slipped through the keeper and into the net.
• Just over 10 minutes later, the two combined again, as Schwartz's give-and-go found Sunday to the left of goal, and she lofted a high shot over the keeper.
• In the 37^th minute, Sunday picked up her assist, crossing to classmate Julia Matson (Rockland, Mass./Rockland), who one-timed a shot into the upper 90.
• Matson returned the favor in the 77^th minute, as her service from the end-line to the left of net found Sunday at the top of the 18-yard box. She lofted another high shot that completed the hat trick.
• WSU's goal game in the 60^th minute, when Marissa McGue (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) crossed the ball from the right flank onto the foot of Nicole Chrietien (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro), who one-timed it home to spoil the shutout bid.

SUNDAY'S BIG DAY

• This was Sunday's first career multi-goal game.
• Brandeis's last hat trick game on Sept. 8, 2016, when Lea McDaniel '17 scored four goals and had eight points against Regis College.
• Sunday now has eight goals and nine assists on the season to lead the Judges in both categories.
• Sunday moves into second in the University Athletic Association with 25 points on the season. Her nine assists are also second in the conference.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Judges outshot Westfield State, 18-8, and had the game's only three corner kicks.
• Junior Maura Koehler (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) made four saves – three in the second half – to preserve the win.
• Owl senior Leah Ciampa (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) had four stops to take the loss.
• The visitors also saw junior Casey Rotti (Rutland, Mass./Wachusett Regional) twice clear the ball off the line in the first half.

UP NEXT

• Brandeis returns to action with their final non-conference game of the season, Sunday afternoon at Elms College at 1 p.m.
• Westfield State is at Fitchburg State at noon on Saturday for a MASCAC showdown.