WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team had three members recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as All-New England selections. Sophomore midfielder Daria Bakhtiari of Wilmington, Massachusetts, was a second team member, while senior defender Emily Thiem of Kinnelon, New Jersey, and senior forward Sasha Sunday of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania were named to the third team.
Bakhtiari earned her first career All-Region honor. She was the team's second-leading scorer this season with five goals and 11 points, including two goals and an assist in University Athletic Association play. Bakhtiari netted the game-winner in the 52nd minute of a conference win over Carnegie Mellon Oct. 6, while also scoring the winning goal on an overtime penalty kick against Tufts University on Sept. 22 in a battle of unbeaten teams at the time. She scored a goal in a 2-1 UAA loss to Emory on Oct. 14, and assisted the game-winning goal in a 4-0 league win over Rochester on Oct. 12.
Thiem was an outside back for the Judges who started all 17 games this season and 32 contests over the past two years. She helped the Brandeis defense finish second in the UAA in goals allowed overall (11) and in conference games (5). The Judges finished the regular season ranked 49th out of 432 teams in Division III in goals-against average (0.68) and 64th in shutout percentage (0.50, eight shutouts in 16 game).
Sunday was a first-team All-Association forward as a junior, when she led the Judges with nine goals and nine assists. This season, Sunday finished with four goals and two assists on the season to finish third on the team in scoring. Sunday netted the team's first and last goals of the regular season. She scored the opening goal in a 3-2 overtime win over MIT on Sept. 1, as well as the team's only goal in a 2-1 defeat at NYU on Nov. 3. She also scored in UAA play against the University of Rochester on Oct. 12. Sunday finished with 17 goals and 11 assists in her career.
The Brandeis women's soccer team, in head coach Denise Dallamora's 38th season on the sideline, finished the 2018 season with 12-5 record. The Judges, who were ranked 19th in Division III at the end of the regular season, earned a fifth-straight bid into the NCAA Division III tournament, where they were upset by #25 Farmingdale State, 1-0, despite outshooting the Rams, 13-3.
Bakhtiari is a 2017 graduate of Central Catholic School.
Thiem is a 2015 graduate of Kinnelon High School.
Sunday is a 2015 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School.
For more information on Brandeis women's soccer, please visit our web site at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/wsoc/index