Forward Sofia Vallone '11 scored four goals last week, and the women's soccer team pulled off two wins before closing out the week with a 2-0 loss at the University of Chicago last Sunday. The team defeated Washington University in St. Louis 2-0 last Friday after blowing out Lesley University 10-0 last Tuesday in the team's home finale.On Sunday, the women's soccer squad closed out an otherwise strong week with a 2-0 loss to the Maroons. Though the Judges recorded 10 shots in the game, none were on target. Both of the goals for the Maroons came early in the match. Chicago sophomore midfielder Bridgette Kragie netted her fifth goal of the season in the 3rd minute, closely followed by a 6th minute goal from freshmen Liz Dorman, her second of the campaign. After allowing the two early goals, Brandeis goalkeeper Francine Kofinas '13 settled down and tallied nine saves on the game for the Judges.

Coach Denise Dallamora noted that Chicago's strength and depth makes them a difficult matchup for the Judges.

"They have quality players and lot more depth than Washington," she said. "They have a great defense and set the tempo for the game."

Vallone attributed the loss to a lack of rhythm.

"We came out and couldn't find a rhythm," she said. "It didn't have to do with heart; we just didn't have it [on Sunday]. Some days we have it, and some days, we don't."

Before the loss, the women's team recorded a 2-0 win over the WashU Bears on their home turf. The win snapped a 12-match winless streak versus WashU, which stretched back to 1997, and a road winless streak stretching back to 1994. The win also broke the Bears' nine-game winning streak.

Both goals for the Judges came in the opening minutes of the second half. In the 47th minute, midfielder Alanna Torre '12 netted the game-winner, striking the ball from 25 yards out over the keeper's head off of a pass from forward Tiffany Pacheco '11. It was Torre's third goal of the season.

Vallone padded the lead with a goal from just inside the 18-yard mark in the 52nd minute, also off a pass from Pacheco. The Bears nearly came back with two shots in the final 20 minutes of play, both of which bounced off the crossbar.

The goal was Vallone's conference-leading 16th goal of the season and moved her to second on the single-season scoring list at Brandeis, just one shy of the record. Vallone also moved into third on the all-time single-season points list, and 10th all-time at Brandeis with 26 career goals. Pacheco now has nine assists on the season and 86 points in her career, fourth all-time for Brandeis.

Dallamora was very happy with the win.

"It's great defeating a team like Washington," she said. "They have been a powerhouse in the conference, winning the championship three years in a row. We played great, moving the ball well and netting quality goals."

Unlike the game versus Chicago, Vallone noted that they were able to find a rhythm this match.

"I think we came out with a lot of energy; we set the tone of the game, the pace and we really outplayed them the entire game," she said.

The Judges' week started off on the right note with a resounding 10-0 win over Lesley last Tuesday in Brandeis' last home game of the season. It was the second-most goals for the women's soccer team in school history.

Vallone earned her second hat trick of the season, scoring in the 11th, 26th and 83rd minutes. She also added two assists on the day, giving her 8 points in the match.

Pacheco also netted herself a goal and added three assists for five points in the match. Ellie Einhorn '11 scored her second goal of the season in the 70th minute and defender Taryn Martiniello '11 added two goals in a span of 32 seconds late in the second half.

Midfielder/forward Madeline Stein '14 also netted two goals for the Judges, and midfielder Mimi Theodore '12 scored a goal and had two assists.

The Judges will travel Saturday to face New York University at 11 a.m. in their final game of the season.

"This game is very important," Dallamora said. "If we beat NYU, we should get into the NCAA Championships."

Vallone knows how important the game is and says that the team will give it their all.

"It's our last scheduled game, and I know we will be leaving everything on the field," she said.



-Max Goldstein contributed reporting.