Playing a regulation 90 minutes of soccer is exhausting. Another 10 minutes is even more exerting. A second overtime is unthinkable, but it is during times of exhaustion when players are running on nothing but grit and guts that a team's true character is revealed.The Judges hosted Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the ECAC quarterfinals on Wednesday and came away with an exhilarating victory.

Lisa Kaplin '07 scored six minutes into the second overtime period for her third goal of the game and the first hat trick of her career, giving the second-seeded Judges a euphoric 3-2 win over the seventh-seeded Engineers.

Kaplin's final goal in her first-ever collegiate hat trick was courtesy of Lauren Gregor '06 who slipped the ball past the WPI goalie and right to Kaplin, who redirected it in for her 15th goal of the season.

Kaplin is only two goals shy of tying the school record for goals in a season set by Melissa DeLowe '04.

"They just played awesome," Coach Denise Dallamora said. "They started out slow, but showed their great chemistry in the second half."

While it took over 100 minutes for the Judges to break through and win, Brandeis controlled the pace for most of the game. The Judges poured on 27 shots compared to only 11 for the Engineers. Brandeis goalkeeper Natasha Pieciak '06 had six saves.

Kaplin's first two scores of the game were in as dramatic a fashion as her game-winner. The Judges entered the second half with the formidable task of overcoming a one goal deficit, which Kaplin did by deflecting a perfect corner kick from co-captain Skylar Buchanan '05 into the goal to tie the game at one.

Soon after, Kaplin managed to extricate herself from three defenders and slide the ball past WPI's outstretched keeper for her second goal of the game, giving Brandeis a one goal advantage.

"[Kaplin] has really helped us out on the attack," Dallamora said. "She's hard-nosed, she works hard and she never quits."

It looked like the Judges were going to be awarded for their strong second-half play as the minutes of regulation dwindled. But the Engineers fought back, taking advantage of a defensive misplay and recording the tying goal with only five minutes remaining.

Brandeis dominated most of both overtime periods, creating many scoring opportunities for themselves on breakaways and long balls.

The Judges outshot the Engineers 6-1 in the two overtimes. Brittany Douglass '07 provided offensive support with her throw-ins that travel as far as corner kicks.

Finally, halfway through the second overtime, Kaplin put an end to WPI's season and to the bitterly cold game.

"It was an awesome pass from [Gregor]," Kaplin said. "My teammates helped out incredibly by creating opportunities for me."

While Kaplin is only two goals short of the season record, she is more focused on the team's next game.

"We will have to come out stronger in our next game," Kaplin said. "We stepped up after the goal was scored on us, but we'll have to play hard and keep up the pressure the whole time."

The Judges were supposed to host Salem State College in the tournament semifinals on Saturday, but snow on the field forced the game to be postponed until Thursday at 1 p.m. on Gordon Field.

The Vikings are a formidable opponent at 13-2-4 and have not lost since late September. Salem State College has also won the last two ECAC New England championships. Scariest of all, the Vikings have allowed only one goal in their last 10 games.

"The team who really wants it the most at this point [will win]," Dallamora said. "We haven't been outside. The conditions aren't great. We're focusing on neutralizing our opponents. We've got to want it."

The Judges started the season with eight consecutive wins before falling to the University of Rochester in their first conference game. Conference play was a struggle all season as the team sputtered to a 3-4 UAA record.

Winning the ECAC tournament would be good consolation after the team had hoped to make the NCAA tournament, but Dallamora does not see it as a measure of the season's success.

"I always hope that we win," Dallamora said. "But I think we've had a very good season."

The Judges will look to extend that season on Thursday. If Brandeis gets past the Vikings, the team will face the winner of Eastern Connecticut State College and Western Connecticut State College in the ECAC championship game on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.