An offensive explosion fueled the women's soccer team this week, as the Judges won consecutive 3-1 games over Simmons College Wednesday and Clark University Saturday. After scoring just two goals in its first two games of the season, both by captain Lisa Kaplin '07, Brandeis awoke from its offensive slumber, as four other players scored this week to help the team even its record at 2-2.The Judges looked to exact revenge against the Cougars Saturday, after they ended Brandeis's season with a 3-2 win over the Judges in last year's ECAC semifinals on Clark's field at Worcester. Playing on the same field, the Judges used goals from Kaplin, backfielder Jenna Lipawsky '09 and midfielder Meredith Milstein '09 to earn a victory.

"We were connecting really well, passing through their team, and sending balls over the top," captain Brittany Douglass '07 said. "Everything just came together."

Captain Melissa Gordon '07 said the win was extra-sweet coming against the team that had toppled them last season.

"This win makes it seem like last year was some sort of fluke," Gordon said. "It made them look very silly; like they accidentally beat us last year."

The Judges got on the board first in the 20th minute, when midfielder Amy King '08 fed the ball to Kaplin, who maneuvered around the edge of the box and rifled it with her left foot into the top left corner of the net. It was Kaplin's fourth goal of the season and the 30th in her Brandeis career, making her the fifth player in school history to reach that plateau.

"That kind of shot doesn't happen for me all the time," Kaplin said. "It was definitely a nice goal and I was ready to go after that."

But the Judges' lead was short-lived, as a turnover on their end allowed the Cougars to even the score. Clark sophomore forward Kari Mruz stole an errant pass and fed junior midfielder Amanda Ramos, who slipped the ball under Brandeis goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig '10 and into the bottom left corner of the net.

The teams were tied until the 33rd minute, when Clark appeared to clear the ball, but midfielder Lizzie Bremner '08 headed it back to substitute midfielder Jenna Lipawsky '09, who chipped a shot from well outside the box over the head of Clark senior goalkeeper Nolizwe Nondabula to give the Judges a 2-1 lead. It was the first goal of Lipawsky's college career.

"The goalie was a short girl, so I knew I could get it over her head," Lipawsky said.

Douglass said that Lipawsky's goal was a turning point in the game for the Judges.

"From there, we just knew that we were going to take the game," she said.

"[Lipawsky] coming in and giving us that key goal really boosted the team's confidence."

The Judges kept up the pressure in the second half, dominating possession before putting the game away in the 81st minute.

Gordon, taking advantage of a fatigued Cougar midfield, dribbled the ball unmarked up the field and fed Milstein, who finished the play by lacing a left-footed shot into the top-right corner of the goal.

It was Milstein's first goal since her game-tying score in last season's ECAC semifinal loss to the Cougars.

On Wednesday, the Judges notched their first victory of the season over Simmons at home. King, Kaplin, and Sarah Jasak '08 all scored for the Judges, who outshot the Sharks by a staggering 29-3 margin.

"[Simmons] was a much-needed win," Douglass said.

"While Simmons wasn't a fantastic team, the win boosted our morale and gave us the confidence we needed to go win [against Clark]."

In a tough week, Brandeis travels to Wellesley College Tuesday, hosts Gordon College Thursday and Bowdoin College Sunday.

"We have some tough games, but now that we know what we need to do to win, we can do it," Douglass said.