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The women's soccer squad flew to the Midwest last weekend in the midst of the best start in program history with an opportunity to increase their lead at the top of the University Athletic Association standings. 
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While the team hoped to keep its hot start going, the squad took a step in the wrong direction with a 6-1 loss at the University of Chicago and a 2-1 defeat to Washington University in St. Louis. The team now sits at 10-3-1 on the season.
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The Judges began the game against WashU with a quick first-half deficit, conceding a ninth minute goal to Bears freshman forward Emily Gosch?(c), whose shot to the far corner soared past goalie Francine Kofinas '13. The rest of the half proved to be a defensive struggle for the Judges, as the Bears rattled off seven more shots to the Judges' three. 
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Goalie Michelle Savuto '15 returned in the second half, and the Judges soon rediscovered their offensive firepower. Central defender Kelly Peterson '14 converted a 40-yard free kick in the 53rd minute for her second goal of the season. Her goal complemented the strong play out of the gate by the Judges, who also drew three fouls and managed a shot on goal. After the equalizer, the game once again became a defensive struggle, as the two teams combined for seven shots during the 20 minutes between goals. 
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The Bears buried the decisive goal against the Judges in the 71st minute. WashU senior midfielder Allie Betley sent a cross to junior forward Lauren Steimle, who converted the one-timer for the game winner. The Judges, however, wouldn't go quietly, as forward Dara Spital '15 nearly tied the game in the 89th minute by firing a shot that was saved by senior goalkeeper Clara Jaques.
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Spital, whose nine goals and four assists are team bests, was notably absent from the scoresheet, managing only three shots. 
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Friday's game saw the Judges picked apart by an aggressive Chicago offense. 
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The Judges entered the match having conceded just three goals all season, but suddenly, they looked like a different squad, surrendering four second-half goals. At the outset, the game looked good for the Judges, as they scored a ninth-minute goal following successive corner kicks. Following the initial set piece, the Judges won a second corner kick. Forward Sapir Edalati '15 made no mistake from six yards, nodding home a high cross from midfielder Mary Shimko '14 for her fifth goal of the season.
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Yet, the lead proved to be short lived, as Chicago tied the game less than two minutes later. 
Freshman forward Julia Ozello beat Kofinas from 12 yards away to knot things up in  what had proven to be a back-and-forth affair. Chicago sophomore forward Sara Kwan then shot past Kofinas in the top left corner in the 17th minute to give Chicago a 2-1 lead. 
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The two goals scored by Chicago marked the first time this year that Brandeis had given up multiple goals in a half.
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This theme of defensive breakdowns would remain consistent throughout the game, especially following a second goal from Ozello in the 53rd minute to extend the Maroons' lead to 3-1. 
By the end of the second half, Chicago had found the back of the net three more times, getting multiple goals on the day from sophomore forward Meghan Derken, as well as multiple points from Derken, Ozello and Kwan.
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Defender Allyson Parziale '16 said that the Judges are determined to not let the results get the best of them. 
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"We're a good team, and we happened to play good teams. We're working to improve and do better," she said. 
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"We're just trying to keep our heads up."
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The Judges will look to get back in the win column at home against Lesley University on Thursday at 7 P.M.