In took three consecutive elimination games, but the women's soccer team finally ran out of steam in the semifinal match of the ECAC tournament on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Clark University in Worcester.After nearly missing the postseason, the Judges defeated New York University 3-1 last Saturday their third straight berth to the ECACs. The drama continued into the tournament when No. 7-seeded Brandeis outlasted No. 2 University of Southern Maine in a thrilling 1-0 shootout victory in the quarterfinals Wednesday. But the Judges stumbled in the second half of their semifinal loss against the Cougars, finishing the season 8-9-2.

Brandeis narrowly missed a return trip to the ECAC championship game, which the Judges lost last season to Eastern Connecticut State University.

Brandeis jumped out to an early lead against Clark when Lauren Gregor '06-who scored two of the Judges' three goals in a 3-0 win against the Cougars in September-put the Judges up 1-0 at 15 minutes in.

But coach Denise Dallamora said a costly lull in concentration followed the goal.

"We started out playing awesome, but after we scored we didn't play so great," Dallamora said. "We thought maybe we could back up a little and hold the lead, so we stopped playing offense and dropped back defensively."

The Cougars took advantage of the respite, recording two goals of their own within six minutes of one another on pinpoint shots that fell right out of Brandeis keeper Betsey Medow's '08 reach.

"They were perfectly placed outside shots," Gregor said. "[They were] right under the crossbar, hard-hit balls."

Trailing 2-1 with the first half winding down, the Judges rallied to record their second and final goal of the contest, this time off the foot of Meredith Milstein '09. Milstein's tally just a minute before halftime propelled the Judges into the second half at a 2-2 gridlock.

Brandeis was more aggressive in the second half, but Clark's offense continually pestered the Judges' defense.

Clark freshman midfielder Amy Keyser-the younger sister of former Brandeis star midfielder Chelsea Keyser '04-knocked in the game-winner early in the second half when the ball was batted around in the box before Keyser nailed it into the corner of the goal.

Lisa Kaplin '07 had a clear scoring opportunity toward the end of the game, but her shot from about 18 yards out hit the crossbar, bounced in front of the goal and was cleared by the Clark defense.

"We could have used some fresher legs," Dallamora said.

The Judges' road to the semifinals would have worn out even the freshest of legs. On Wednesday, the Judges outshot the No 2. Huskies 20-7 but could not find the net through regulation and two overtime periods, forcing the game into a shootout.

Brandeis shot first and found goals from Sarah Jasak '08, Kim Fraser '08 and Kaplin. After the first set of five penalty kicks per team, the goals were tied at three each and the game progressed to sudden death penalty kicks, in which the first team to score when the other doesn't score advances to the semifinals.

Lizzie Bremner '08 scored on her attempt in the sudden death round, but was soon matched by USM senior Eva Hanson. Finally, Milstein put the Judges up again, and Medow was able to deny the Huskies' rookie Kara Higgins to end the game.

"It was probably one of the greatest feelings of the season after [Medow] made that save and we all just rushed out and celebrated," said Kaplin.

Despite the semifinal loss, Dallamora said she is proud of her team.

"They had a good year," she said. "A few disappointments and injuries, but they worked hard and I think they played to their potential.