The women's soccer team began last season on an emotional high, giving coach Denise Dallamora her 200th career victory. But this season's opener didn't bring similar sentiments. The Judges suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Saturday, in the first game of the season, falling in overtime after rallying to tie the game in the second half.

After captain Lisa Kaplin '07 tied the game 1-1 in the 58th minute, the Judges entered the extra period poised to complete their comeback. Instead, Engineers first year Liz Thuerer knocked home a rebound past rookie goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig '10 in the 95th minute to give MIT the victory.

"Honestly, we played really bad," Kaplin said.

Dallamora elaborated: "They didn't go to the ball," she said. "They didn't support the ball offensively. They didn't move the ball well."

The Judges came out flat early, allowing MIT to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Engineers' senior Ashleigh Leonard lofted a cross from the left side Rosenzweig came off her line to punch the ball out. However, a miscommunication allowed MIT senior Mary Harding to head the ball over Rosenzweig into the back of the net.

"I called off for a ball that she probably would have headed out, and then I didn't get to it," Rosenzweig said. "I was really upset that I cost us that goal."

A knee injury suffered by goalkeeper Betsey Meadow '07 forced Rosenzweig to start the game. Playing in her first-ever collegiate game, Rosenzweig experienced some growing pains, but said she benefited from the ordeal.

"I learned that I have to not let my nerves get in the way," she said. "I have to be confident and take charge, even if I'm playing with girls older than me."

The Judges were unable to come up with an equalizer for MIT's early fireworks. Rookie Melissa Gorenkoff '10 had a golden opportunity to tie the game, but MIT freshman Julia Roberts blocked her shot on a dive to preserve the 1-0 margin.

"The first 25 minutes of the game really hurt us," captain Brittany Douglass '07 said. "When someone scores, the whole momentum of the game changes, and we got down on ourselves instead of coming back and just working harder to try to score again."

After the Judges' first-half offensive struggles, Dallamora substituted two additional forwards to the lineup to help Kaplin stimulate the team's attack. The Judges created more scoring opportunities in the second half after the switch, and they dominated possession en route to outshooting MIT 14-9 for the game.

"Putting three people up top helped our attack incredibly," Dallamora said. "We were doing stuff with the ball, mostly in their end."

The team finally broke through in the 58th minute. Douglass forced a turnover at midfield and slipped the ball behind the defense to Kaplin, who allowed the goalie to charge and cleverly knocked the ball into the left corner of the net for the equalizer.

While the Judges continued to pound away at the MIT defense in the second half, they were unable to grab the lead in regulation time.

"It wasn't like the goalie was making incredible plays," Kaplin said. "We just couldn't finish."

MIT was able to regain control in overtime, as they immediately marched right down the side of the field and crossed the ball into the box. Both teams fought for possession, and after Rosenzweig saved a few shots, the Judges were unable to clear, allowing Thuerer to knock the ball into the back of the net for the game-winner.

"If we had just got one good hit on the ball and cleared it out, there would have been a totally different outcome," Douglass said.

The Judges play next on Tuesday at home against Babson College at 5 p.m.