The women’s soccer team continued their solid start to the season with a close 2-1 win over visiting Lasell College on Saturday on Gordon Field. 

The win was a little more emphatic than the final score would suggest, as the Judges outshot the Lasers 24-2 for the day, never allowing the visitors to gain any offensive rhythm.

Midfielder Sapir Edalati ’15 said she believes that part of the reason for the team’s strong start has been their mindset. 

“Everyone is working out of their mind for the team,” she said. “This is the culture that we have been working towards since my freshman year. It's here now and every single player on the team can feel it.

“In years past we dominated the boards in many games but we couldn't overcome being scored on. This year that isn't a problem for us,” she continued.

After defeating Clark University on Aug. 31, the Judges sought to continue their solid start to the year by besting a Lasell team that had two wins and one loss for their first home win of the season. 

The Judges came out of the gate strong, controlling the ball and playing persistent defense that left the Lasers without a shot at the end of the first half. 

Even so, the Judges failed to convert on any of their nine shots in the first half. Lasell senior goalkeeper Leah Pappalardo kept the game scoreless with five saves. 

The story was a familiar one for the Judges, as they had a very similar showing against Clark the week before. 

The first half against the Clark   Cougars played out in much the same way, with Brandeis controlling the possession, outshooting their opponent and entering the half with no points to show for their dominance. 

It was only in the beginning of the second half against the Cougars that the Judges were finally able to take advantage of their repeated scoring opportunities. 

Edalati said that even though the team was not able to get a goal in the first half against Lasell on Saturday, it was equally important that the team maintained and produce goal-scoring opportunities. 

“One of the hardest parts of soccer is actually getting down to the other teams goal and getting a shot off,” she said.

“In the past we have struggled just to get down to the other team’s final third, but this season this team is figuring out early on how to dominate the stats. 

“Now that we’re there—literally on the end line—we can focus our energies on finishing the opportunities we have created for ourselves,” she continued.

 Fortunately for Brandeis, the women were able to stick to the script, maintain pressure and finally take advantage of an opportunity in the 66th minute to put themselves in front of the Lasers. 

Forward Samantha Schwartz ’18 set up Edalati with a pass from the right sideline that eventually found the back of the net after Pappalardo attempted to challenge the shot to no avail. 

The goal was Edalati's first of the year, after being held off the scoresheet in each of the Judges' first two games.

Edalati and Schwartz have made for a devastating pair on offense thus far in the season. 

“Sometimes things just click,” Edalati said. 

“[Schwartz] and I and share the same vision on the field which allows for this amazing chemistry that we have had.” 

In the 78th minute, and on only their second shot of the day, Lasell managed to tie the game off of a run made by senior forward Bridget Lynch. The goal not only tied up the game, but also emphasized how critical it is to capitalize on the opportunities that present themselves throughout the game.

The Lasers would finish the game without another shot, the second game in a row the Brandeis defense has given up three or fewer shots during a game.

In the end, for the second consecutive game, it was the young Schwartz who was the story of the day, producing a late game-winning goal. Forward Holly Szafran ’16 played a long through ball to Schwartz in the 82nd minute and Schwartz took care of the rest by dribbling past a defender and sending the ball to the back of the net, giving Brandeis a lead that the squad would not give up. 

The goal was Schwartz’s second game-winning goal for the Judges in as many games. 

The forward has gotten her Brandeis career off to a hot start, tallying five points on seven shots in three games this season. 

The team returns to the field this afternoon, playing at Bridgewater State University at 3:30 p.m., and then at home on Saturday afternoon against the University of Massachusetts-Boston.