Despite the home fans screaming her name, rookie forward Tiffany Pacheco's '11 game-tying shot attempt in the 69th minute of the women's soccer team's game against the University of Rochester Saturday sailed well wide of the goal. "It was bouncing, and I couldn't settle it, [so] I didn't kick it well," Pacheco said of her miss.

Yellowjackets rookie midfielder Kristen Ross didn't have the crowd behind her, but five minutes after Pacheco's attempt, she composed herself after a missed shot of her own and converted the rebound to put the Judges away.

Each team had a similar number of scoring opportunities, but the Judges were unable to convert any of theirs, suffering a 2-0 loss to the Yellowjackets in their University Athletic Association opener. The loss snapped the team's five-game unbeaten streak, and dropped its record to 6-2-1 following a 3-1 win over Smith College Wednesday.

"We need to be more composed on our chances," assistant coach Kerry O'Malley said. "Sometimes we get some great opportunities, and we can't put the ball in the back of the net. I think there was a little bit of lack of focus in the front part of the field, and that's why we couldn't score."

Head coach Denise Dallamora declined an interview request after the game.

Rochester took control in the 25th minute when senior forward Ali Streeter connected with senior forward Tammy Brewster, who sent a shot past diving goalie Hillary Rosenzweig '10 for the first score of the night.

"[The Yellowjackets] came out tough, they completed their shots and opportunities and competed better than we did," Rosenzweig said.

Following that goal, Brandeis asserted control offensively, outshooting the Yellowjackets 6-1 for the rest of the half. The Judges failed to score, however, with their best chance coming on a shot in the 38th minute by rookie midfielder Sofia Vallone '11 which Leitch caught in the air.

"Brandeis came really hard to the ball; they really pressured us, especially in the back," Leitch said. "We definitely had to step it up."

Rochester nearly took a 2-0 lead in the first minute of the second half, but Rosenzweig turned aside Brewster's shot attempt. Eight minutes later, the Judges nearly tied the game when midfielder Sarah Jasak '08 slotted a pass behind the defense to forward Tzlil Castel '08, whose shot went past Leitch for what seemed to be a goal. As the Judges celebrated, however, the umpire called Castel offsides and took the score away.

"Their backs would step up, and we just need to read that and do a better job of recognizing when they're stepping so we don't get called offside," O'Malley said.

Brandeis suffered another offsides penalty in the 66th minute, their third of the evening, wiping away another scoring opportunity. Two minutes later, Pacheco missed her shot wide, and after Ross' rebound goal in the 74th minute, the Judges never seriously threatened again.

"We just didn't clear [the ball]," O'Malley said of Ross' goal. "That ball should have been out of there a lot earlier than it was, so it was very unfortunate."

Despite taking four shots in the game, star forward Melissa Gorenkoff '10 was never able to create the space she did last week, when she won two goals against both Wellesley College and Gordon College. O'Malley credited that to Rochester's defense.

"[Rochester] had two girls on [Gorenkoff almost] all the game," O'Malley said. "When she did get the ball, they were right up on her, not allowing her to play."

The Judges avenged last season's East Coast Athletic Conference tournament semifinal loss against Smith Wednesday. Brandeis jumped ahead early when Castel crossed the ball from the left side of the field into the far side of the goal in the 16th minute.

Smith tied the score in the 29th minute, and the deadlock persisted even as the Judges dominated offensive play. Brandeis finally went ahead for good in the 68th minute, however, when substitute midfielder Lindsay Deslauriers '09 sliced a shot from just outside the offensive box into the far corner of the net.

The Judges then added an insurance goal in the 78th minute for the final margin.

The Judges face off against Tufts University Wednesday at 4 p.m. before resuming UAA play at Case Western Reserve University Saturday at 3:30 p.m.