WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team suffered their first home defeat of the season tonight as the Judges dropped a 3-0 decision to Washington University in St. Louis in a rematch of a 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament semifinal from a year ago. With the loss, Brandeis – ranked No. 23 in Division III by D3soccer.com - falls to 11-3-3 overall, 2-2-1 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). Washington – ranked No. 6 nationally by the United Soccer Coaches and No. 8 by D3soccer.com – improves to 13-1-1 overall, 4-1 in the UAA.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bears got all the scoring they would need in the 32^nd minute when Darcy Cunningham took advantage of a Brandeis defender losing her footing to gain free space. Cunningham ripped a shot into the upper-left netting from the top of the 18-yard box to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
• Brandeis had some terrific chances to equalize early in the second half. Senior Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) shot just high 13 seconds into the stanza.
• Schwartz worked free in the 49^th minute and was in alone on the keeper, but hit the left post.
• In the 55^th minute, Brandeis sophomore Julia Matson (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) force Washington U. keeper Emma Greenfield to make her toughest save, tipping a ball just over the crossbar.
• Brandeis kept the Bears at bay until the 78^th minute, when a foul deep in the defensive zone led to a free kick by Gillian Myers. Myers served the ball into the box, and it deflected off a Brandeis defender and past Judge grad student Frankie Pinto (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente).
• At the 79:00, WashU tacked on the final goal, as Ellie DeConinck ran on to a long ball served by Alison Cerny and beat Pinto the ball for her seventh goal of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Washington owned a 20-8 edge in shots, including 14-5 in the first half. Brandeis had a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks and committed eight fouls to three for the Bears.
• Pinto went the distance for the first time in her career and made six saves.
• Greenfield had three stops for the Bears to complete the shutout.
• Brandeis fell to 4-1-2 at home this season.

UP NEXT

• Things don't get any easier for the Judges as they welcome top-ranked Chicago to town on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
• Washington is at NYU at the same time.