#22 women drop UAA opener at #17 CMU, 3-0

Caroline Swan dribbles through the midfield.
Caroline Swan '23 (Photo by Sportspix.com)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – In a battle of nationally-ranked squads, the 22nd-ranked Brandeis University women's soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision to #17 Carnegie Mellon in the University Athletic Association opener for both teams today in Pittsburgh. With the loss, the Judges fall to 5-2-2 overall, 0-1-0 in the UAA. The Tartans improve to 8-2, 1-0 UAA.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with the teams combining for just five total shots, 3-2 in favor of CMU. The Tartans put the only two shots on goal, but Brandeis rookie Hannah Bassan (Aventura, Fla./NSU University School) made both saves asked of her. Brandeis's best attempts of the game came in the 44th minute when junior Caroline Swan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) hit the crossbar on a free kick.

The home team kept the pressure on in the second half, outshooting Brandeis, 7-0. The Tartans finally broke through in the 61st minute, when Marissa McAfee headed home a corner kick taken by Sarah Scoles. Brandeis kept the game manageable until the final six minutes when CMU scored on back-to-back shots. Maria Askounis scored for the Tartans in the 85th minute, and McAfee added her second of the game 1:18 later on an assist by Helena Spencer.

For the game, Bassan finished with two saves but suffered just her second defeat of the season. Carolyn Botz was untested for the Tartans to earn the shutout.

Brandeis returns to action next Saturday morning at 11 a.m. when they host #11 Case Western Reserve in the Judges' annual Homecoming game.