Use the field below to perform an advanced search of The Justice archives. This will return articles, images, and multimedia relevant to your query.
The Lois Foster Wing in the Rose Art Museum this semester has featured Mika Rottenberg's sparse Bowls Balls Souls Holes exhibit. However, on Sunday, as a part of the Leon ard Bernstein Festival of the Arts, that space transformed to feature the five-member Boston Typewriter Or chestra , a group focused on employ ing rhythmic typewriter manipula tion to create eccentric and inventive music.
On April 21, en route from a road match against local rival Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the men's and women's tennis teams were on two different positions. The No. 30 men's squad surged from a 3-1 deficit in singles play to take down the Engineers in a critical 6-3 victory. The No. 22 women's team only mustered one point against MIT in an 8-1 loss, snapping a six-match winning streak. The men looked to build upon their success and the women sought to shake off defeat at the University Athletic Association Championships in Orlando, Fla. that weekend. One week later, on the flight back to Waltham, the squads were at odds once again. The men salvaged a seventh place finish in the UAA, and an 11-10 record, with a commanding 7-2 victory over the University of Rochester. The women dropped to sixth place, and an 11-11 finish, after suffering a 5-4 loss to Case Western Reserve University. "Against Rochester, we were all just in better shape and wanted it more than them," said Brian Granoff '17. "Their guys were cramping up but we were all fine and played much better than them all around." Granoff and Danny Lubarsky '16 clinched an 8-4 win at the No. 1 slot, setting the tone for the Judges. Alec Siegel '15 and Michael Arguello '17 offset a tight 8-6 loss at the No. 3 with a nail-biting 9-8 victory of their own. Michael Secular '15 and Granoff rolled over their opponents in straight sets, leaving the decisive match to Lubarsky. He delivered in the No. 3 slot with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Rochester junior Julian Danko. Ryan Bunis '17, for added measure, rode his way to the end of the season on a 10-match winning streak, securing a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) victory. Just a day earlier, the men almost avoided the seventh-place match with Rochester, falling just short in a 5-4 defeat to the University of Chicago for fifth place. The Maroons raced out to two straight victories on doubles courts. However, in singles play the Judges shined. Secular topped Chicago freshman Max Hawkins 7-5, 6-2 at the No. 6 court, laying the foundation for three critical Brandeis wins. Granoff noted that the shortcomings in doubles play primarily led to the Judges' downfall. "Against Chicago, the doubles was the huge difference," he said. "We went down 3-0 after doubles and just couldn't win five out of the six singles matches." The men, however, improved greatly after suffering an 8-1 defeat to the defending UAA champion Washington University in St. Louis at the outset of the tournament. Bunis earned the lone point for the Judges, maintaining his winning streak with a 6-0, 3-6, 10-16 triumph over WashU senior Tim Noack. The women's squad followed a different trajectory on their UAA path this weekend. On Sunday, in the fifth-place match against Case, the Judges dropped their first two doubles matches before Dylan Schlesinger '15 and Simone Vandroff '15 attained a 9-8 victory in the No. 3 court. However, the women weren't going home without a fight. Carley Cooke '15 improved to 8-0 at the No. 1 court in UAA play with a 6-2, 6-2 straight-sets victory over junior Marianne Bonnano. Allyson Bernstein '14 and Emily Eska '16 took control from there, winning at the No. 2 and No. 4 spots, respectively. Yet, Case proceeded to win the next two matches to knock off the Judges. It was a different story for the women against New York University on Saturday. The senior duo of Bernstein and Marissa Lazar '14 secured an 8-4 victory at the No. 2 for their ninth win in 10 matches while Vandroff and Schlesinger cruised to an 8-1 win. In singles, the women did not even drop a set, ensuring an 8-1 victory over NYU. In the quarterfinal match against fourth-seeded Chicago, the women got to a slow start, dropping the No. 2 match by an 8-4 margin. Schlesinger and Vandroff came close to drawing a tie with the Maroons, but ultimately, fell victim to a break of serve, dropping a 9-7 match to sophomore Stephanie Lee and junior Kelsey McGillis. Cooke and Roberta Bergstein '14 came even closer than that, falling just short after a 7-2 tiebreaker loss to the junior duo of Megan Tang and Tiffany Chen. Cooke avenged her defeat to Tang, the top-ranked player in the Central Region, with a 6-4, 6-1 win in straight sets in singles play. However, the rest of the team then experienced a rut, dropping the next three matches. Vandroff and Maya Vasser '16 won at the No. 5 and No. 6 courts, but ultimately, could not win it for the Judges. The squads may have concluded their season, but as Granoff noted, expectations are high for squads that will have plenty of experience next year. "Next year, we expect to do even better and be nationally ranked...with experience, we hope to build off of our lessons and end in the top four at the UAA to hopefully make NCAA's," he said.
At the conclusion of its latest Thirsty Thursday event at the International Lounge in Usdan Student Center, Student Events rolled out the much anticipated lineup for SpringFest 2014. Swedish disk jockey duo Icona Pop, featuring Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo, will headline the annual end-of-year festival on Sunday, April 27. Hip-hop group Atmosphere, indie rock band American Authors and electronic music artist RJD2-a hold-over from Student Events' postponed winter concert-will round out the set list. Director of Concerts for Student Events Stefani Gospodinova '14 explained in an interview with the Justice that the signing of Icona Pop for the concert fulfilled two of Sudent Events' goals: to recruit a female headliner and to steer away from showcasing hip-hop artists who have typically taken the SpringFest stage. "We didn't want a hip-hop artist because we've done that a lot in the past... and we knew we wanted a female headliner so we weren't sure who, but then this was kind of like a perfect situation," Gospodinova said. "They're just getting off their tour with Miley Cyrus the week before, and then they're free our weekend before they go home to Sweden... so we got super, super lucky." In addition to the lineup of acts, Student Events also decided to break the traditional mold this year by introducing its new beach party theme. Chapels Field will be transformed into a beach village for the concert. According to Gospodinova, the field will be covered in sand, there will be water activities and an assortment of beach-inspired giveaways will be distributed to students throughout the course of the event. With a varied set list and plans to implement a large-scale theme, Student Events strives to not only provide a concert for the student body but actually something far greater. "We're really adding a lot of new things and it's not just going to be a concert... it is going to be an experience," Gospodinova said. -Emily Wishingrad contributed reporting
Guard Kasey Dean '14 has stepped up in every way possible for the Judges over the course of her collegiate career. Two years ago, women's basketball guard Morgan Kendrew '12 ended a storied four year-career with 974 points, 113 three-pointers and a spot in the 2012 New England Women's Basketball Association Senior All-Star Classic. The Judges needed a new leader to step in and emerge as a consistent scoring threat. Enter Dean, who has started in every game throughout the last two years and done just that for a Brandeis squad that is on the rise. After a season in which she led the team in scoring nine times and in assists on 16 different occasions, Dean has become the first player since Kendrew to earn a selection to the NEWBA Classic. This year, the annual all-star showcase will be held at Smith College on March 29. "It feels really great to be recognized, but of course, it wouldn't be possible without our successful season," she said. "We came together in some really big games and I wish others on the team could also be recognized, but this should be a great experience." The NEWBA Classic is an event that seeks to honor outstanding seniors from Division III schools across New England. Players from around the region receive nominations from both their coaches and sports information directors and are placed on a ballot. Coaches proceed to select 22 participants from this expansive field through a vote. Dean captained a team that finished 14-13, earned a 7-7 mark within the University Athletic Association and, most significantly, secured its first playoff berth since the 2008 to 2009 season. Dean's individual accomplishments range far and wide. She led the team with 10 points per game and 3.2 assists per game this year, particularly thriving during the squad's impressive six-game conference winning streak. The senior guard also drained a career-high 20 points in a Feb. 14 loss to then-No. 2 Washington University in St. Louis and dished out a personal record of nine assists in a stunning upset of local rival Emmanuel College, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. "Every game during that whole streak was just a joy to play in," she said. "We just knew we could win, beginning with that [Jan. 26] victory over Emory [University]." She also believes the critical skills she has acquired in her time with the Judges have figured prominently into her success. "All of my decisions have been based on my basketball career," stated Dean. My self-discipline, ability to work on a team and split-second decision making has all been developed as a result of playing on this team." Even though Dean's storied playing career may end with the NEWBA Classic, she still aspires to stay in the athletics realm. She has considered pursuing employment opportunities in sports marketing or in a collegiate athletic department. Regardless, she knows it is a field she wishes to remain in for quite some time. "I've tried other areas but just haven't had the same joy that I've had, for example, on the basketball court with this team," she said.
Guard Kasey Dean '14 has stepped up in every way possible for the Judges over the course of her collegiate career. Two years ago, women's basketball guard Morgan Kendrew '12 ended a storied four year-career with 974 points, 113 three-pointers and a spot in the 2012 New England Women's Basketball Association Senior All-Star Classic. The Judges needed a new leader to step in and emerge as a consistent scoring threat. Enter Dean, who has started in every game throughout the last two years and done just that for a Brandeis squad that is on the rise. After a season in which she led the team in scoring nine times and in assists on 16 different occasions, Dean has become the first player since Kendrew to earn a selection to the NEWBA Classic. This year, the annual all-star showcase will be held at Smith College on March 29. "It feels really great to be recognized, but of course, it wouldn't be possible without our successful season," she said. "We came together in some really big games and I wish others on the team could also be recognized, but this should be a great experience." The NEWBA Classic is an event that seeks to honor outstanding seniors from Division III schools across New England. Players from around the region receive nominations from both their coaches and sports information directors and are placed on a ballot. Coaches proceed to select 22 participants from this expansive field through a vote. Dean captained a team that finished 14-13, earned a 7-7 mark within the University Athletic Association and, most significantly, secured its first playoff berth since the 2008 to 2009 season. Dean's individual accomplishments range far and wide. She led the team with 10 points per game and 3.2 assists per game this year, particularly thriving during the squad's impressive six-game conference winning streak. The senior guard also drained a career-high 20 points in a Feb. 14 loss to then-No. 2 Washington University in St. Louis and dished out a personal record of nine assists in a stunning upset of local rival Emmanuel College, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. "Every game during that whole streak was just a joy to play in," she said. "We just knew we could win, beginning with that [Jan. 26] victory over Emory [University]." She also believes the critical skills she has acquired in her time with the Judges have figured prominently into her success. "All of my decisions have been based on my basketball career," stated Dean. My self-discipline, ability to work on a team and split-second decision making has all been developed as a result of playing on this team." Even though Dean's storied playing career may end with the NEWBA Classic, she still aspires to stay in the athletics realm. She has considered pursuing employment opportunities in sports marketing or in a collegiate athletic department. Regardless, she knows it is a field she wishes to remain in for quite some time. "I've tried other areas but just haven't had the same joy that I've had, for example, on the basketball court with this team," she said.
On March 1, the Boston Bruins departed from TD Garden fresh from a heartbreaking 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. Since returning from the three-week Winter Olympics hiatus on Feb. 26, the Bruins had failed to win a game and were struggling. Three weeks and a 12-game winning streak later, the Bruins look like an entirely different squad. Boston reeled off three straight road victories against the New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes, before finally falling to the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in a shootout last night to improve to 49-17 on the season with 103 points, a mark that places them at the top of the Eastern Conference and 17 points ahead of the next closest Atlantic Division opponent. The Bruins' 12-game winning streak allowed the team to clinch a playoff spot, the first team in either conference of the NHL to do so. "We still have to play our hockey and really focus on the little details going into the playoffs," said Bruins captain and defenseman Zdeno Chara. "Not being satisfied or complacent and keep pushing our team." Meanwhile, the status of the Bruins' winning streak stood in grave danger on Saturday against Phoenix. Boston trailed the host Coyotes by a 2-1 margin heading into the third period. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with 39 seconds left in the second period, just fired off a power-play goal past Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask and the near post for the lead. However, the Bruins came roaring back. Three minutes and 48 seconds into the third period, Chara fired a shot that deflected off of left wing Jarome Iginla and past Phoenix goalie Mike Smith to tie the game at 2-2. From there, Boston took control of the game. Right wing Shawn Thornton broke through for the go-ahead goal with 3:18 remaining in regulation, tipping in a feed past Smith from left wing Daniel Paille. Iginla put the icing on the cake, slotting home an empty-netter with 31.7 seconds left to ice the 4-2 victory for the Bruins. There was no doubt, though, for Boston in a road match at Denver the previous night. Goalie Chad Johnson made 31 saves and the Bruins cruised to a 2-0 victory. While Colorado outshot the road team by a 14-6 margin in the first period, Boston struck first. Center Patrice Bergeron, with 5:12 remaining in the period, slotted the puck right at Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, but then picked up a critical rebound. He found an opening past Varlamov's outstretched left pad and fired it right past the goalkeeper for the 1-0 advantage. Center Carl Soderberg added an insurance goal at the 13:11mark in the second period with a shot that soared to an exposed part of the net over Varlamov's right shoulder. On Tuesday, the Bruins had to rely once again on its offense for a 4-2 victory over the Devils. Bergeron opened up the scoring at the 14:33 mark in the first period with a backhand shot through New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur's legs for the early lead. After ceding a power-play goal to New Jersey center Patrik Elias, left wing Brad Marchand responded with a resounding one-timer into the top right corner to hand the lead right back to the Bruins. Iginla joined the scoring frenzy just 59 seconds later, slotting the puck past a beleaguered Brodeur for a 3-1 lead. Bergeron netted the Bruins' lone goal in Monday's 2-1 shootout loss, when he redirected defenseman Dougie Hamilton's snap shot into the net at 14:34 of the third period. Rask stopped 21 shots in the loss. The Bruins will square off against the Chicago Blackhawks in a home match on Thursday at 7 p.m. *
Foilist Caroline Mattos '16 entered the final pool of the 2014 NCAA Regionals at Wellesley College on March 9 with all of the momentum on her side. She secured a 5-1 record in the opening round and made her way to the finals on the heels of a victory over Harvard University senior Alex Kiefer, the tournament's eventual silver medalist. In the finals, however, Mattos hit a wall and limped to a 2-3 start in the final pool. "My greatest challenge has been controlling my head game," she said. "Keeping a cool mind at all times is a crucial aspect of every sport, especially fencing." In that pivotal sixth match, she rose to the challenge. "I knew that I would have to calm myself down and just focus for each touch if I wanted to start winning," she said. Mattos rolled off five wins in her next six matches to earn a fourth-place finish among all women's foilists in the tournament. In the process she qualified for her second-straight NCAA Championships, to be held at the Ohio State University on Thursday. For Mattos, the journey to Columbus-and fencing on the national stage-has been an unexpected one. A native of Cumberland, R.I., Mattos initially never set her sights on the sport of fencing. Then, her father spotted a recruitment advertisement from Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club in a local newspaper. He encouraged her to begin lessons with club coach Alex Ripa. One decade later, the rest of her story is history. "It was with Alex's help, as well as the motivation I received from my other teammates at the club, which pushed me to work hard and get to the level I am at now," Mattos said. Two years ago, in heading a core of foilists that include Eva Ahmad '16, Emilia Dwyer '16 and Chaya Schapiro '16, she seamlessly translated her skills and lessons from the club level to the collegiate stage. Mattos contributed to two straight New England Conference Championships, earned a bid to the NCAA Championships in San Antonio in her rookie season and has posted an impressive 67-13 record this season. While her fencing style has mostly remained the same since her time with Ripa, Brandeis head coach Bill Shipman has imparted intangible skills to Mattos that have proven to figure prominently in her collegiate success-confidence, ambition as well as perseverance. "Coach Shipman has been crucial in my motivation to continue to train hard, and has kept me focused on my goals," she said. "Coach has also taught me to be more confident with my actions." This is especially critical as Mattos sets her sights on her second appearance at Nationals. She noted how in her first national appearance in San Antonio last March, a lack of confidence and a concern for meeting lofty expectations resulted in a loss of focus. However, this year, with previous national exposure, Mattos is ready to make a statement. "Since this is my second time attending I now know what to expect," she said. "I am going to try to stay cool and think of each touch within each bout. As long as I stay focused and fight hard I know I will do well." If history is any indicator, Mattos will look to take her own advice to heart this weekend at Ohio State.
As the calendar flipped to March, the Boston Bruins continued their recent success with home wins over the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers. In a rematch of a Capitals victory on March 1, the Bruins took a 3-0 victory, capping a week of strong pla by Boston that included a 4-1 victory over the Panthers. The Bruins fired off three goals and allowed just 15 shots en route to a commanding victory on Saturday. "This was the best-played game for this team since break," said center Patrice Bergeron. "We played well, we played tight, and when we do that, good things happen." After a scoreless first period, it took the Bruins just three minutes, five seconds into the second period to find the net. Bergeron fired off a pass to right wing Gregory Campbell, who then struck a one-timer past Capitals goalkeeper Braden Holtby, off the right post and into the net, handing the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The goal was Campbell's fourth in four games. Five minutes later, left wing Loui Eriksson put home his seventh goal of the season for a 2-0 lead. At the end of the second period, the offense, with 27 shots, was firing on all cylinders. Yet, the more telling stat existed at the other end of the margin: just eight shots allowed by Boston's defensive line in two periods to the high-scoring Capitals offense. Center Brad Marchand fired off an empty-net goal-his 21st of the season-with just 1:34 left to ice the 3-0 lead-and the game. The Bruins defense allowed seven shots against Washington in the third period, though none of the shots came close to challenging Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask. "We battled hard," said Eriksson. "This was a great team effort and we had some really good chances." "Now we just need to keep doing that," he continued Tuesday night, the Bruins dominated the Florida Panthers 4-1 in a game that Boston won comfortably despite not being on top form. The Bruins had several near misses in the first couple of minutes, shooting twice wide of Florida goalkeeper Tim Thomas' net. Thomas, a former Bruins fan favorite and key member of the team's Stanley Cup victory in 2011, did not have the same success in his return to TD Garden on Tuesday Center Chris Kelly fired an effort on goal that had Thomas beat. Luckily for the goalkeeper, the shot sped just wide of his left-hand post. Boston got the jump just seven minutes, 29 seconds into the game. Center David Krejci skated in from the left side of the net toward the center of the goal and fired a shot into the right corner to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Krejci scored a goal midway through the second period to extend the Bruins' lead, and completed a hat trick with an empty-net goal late in the third period. Boston was certainly dominant in its margin of victory. However, coach Claude Julien recognized that the team still has room to improve its game. "I still thought defensively [we have] got to tighten up some more," he said. "I felt the second period wasn't a very good period for us. We kind of gave them an opportunity to get some momentum back even though we scored the only goal." "They were probably the better team that second period." The Bruins travel to Montreal tomorrow for a divisional matchup with the Montreal Canadiens before opening a three-game home stand versus the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and the Minnesota Wild next Monday. *
As the calendar flipped to March, the Boston Bruins continued their recent success with home wins over the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers. In a rematch of a Capitals victory on March 1, the Bruins took a 3-0 victory, capping a week of strong pla by Boston that included a 4-1 victory over the Panthers. The Bruins fired off three goals and allowed just 15 shots en route to a commanding victory on Saturday. "This was the best-played game for this team since break," said center Patrice Bergeron. "We played well, we played tight, and when we do that, good things happen." After a scoreless first period, it took the Bruins just three minutes, five seconds into the second period to find the net. Bergeron fired off a pass to right wing Gregory Campbell, who then struck a one-timer past Capitals goalkeeper Braden Holtby, off the right post and into the net, handing the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The goal was Campbell's fourth in four games. Five minutes later, left wing Loui Eriksson put home his seventh goal of the season for a 2-0 lead. At the end of the second period, the offense, with 27 shots, was firing on all cylinders. Yet, the more telling stat existed at the other end of the margin: just eight shots allowed by Boston's defensive line in two periods to the high-scoring Capitals offense. Center Brad Marchand fired off an empty-net goal-his 21st of the season-with just 1:34 left to ice the 3-0 lead-and the game. The Bruins defense allowed seven shots against Washington in the third period, though none of the shots came close to challenging Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask. "We battled hard," said Eriksson. "This was a great team effort and we had some really good chances." "Now we just need to keep doing that," he continued Tuesday night, the Bruins dominated the Florida Panthers 4-1 in a game that Boston won comfortably despite not being on top form. The Bruins had several near misses in the first couple of minutes, shooting twice wide of Florida goalkeeper Tim Thomas' net. Thomas, a former Bruins fan favorite and key member of the team's Stanley Cup victory in 2011, did not have the same success in his return to TD Garden on Tuesday Center Chris Kelly fired an effort on goal that had Thomas beat. Luckily for the goalkeeper, the shot sped just wide of his left-hand post. Boston got the jump just seven minutes, 29 seconds into the game. Center David Krejci skated in from the left side of the net toward the center of the goal and fired a shot into the right corner to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Krejci scored a goal midway through the second period to extend the Bruins' lead, and completed a hat trick with an empty-net goal late in the third period. Boston was certainly dominant in its margin of victory. However, coach Claude Julien recognized that the team still has room to improve its game. "I still thought defensively [we have] got to tighten up some more," he said. "I felt the second period wasn't a very good period for us. We kind of gave them an opportunity to get some momentum back even though we scored the only goal." "They were probably the better team that second period." The Bruins travel to Montreal tomorrow for a divisional matchup with the Montreal Canadiens before opening a three-game home stand versus the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and the Minnesota Wild next Monday. *
As the calendar flipped to March, the Boston Bruins continued their recent success with home wins over the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers. In a rematch of a Capitals victory on March 1, the Bruins took a 3-0 victory, capping a week of strong pla by Boston that included a 4-1 victory over the Panthers. The Bruins fired off three goals and allowed just 15 shots en route to a commanding victory on Saturday. "This was the best-played game for this team since break," said center Patrice Bergeron. "We played well, we played tight, and when we do that, good things happen." After a scoreless first period, it took the Bruins just three minutes, five seconds into the second period to find the net. Bergeron fired off a pass to right wing Gregory Campbell, who then struck a one-timer past Capitals goalkeeper Braden Holtby, off the right post and into the net, handing the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The goal was Campbell's fourth in four games. Five minutes later, left wing Loui Eriksson put home his seventh goal of the season for a 2-0 lead. At the end of the second period, the offense, with 27 shots, was firing on all cylinders. Yet, the more telling stat existed at the other end of the margin: just eight shots allowed by Boston's defensive line in two periods to the high-scoring Capitals offense. Center Brad Marchand fired off an empty-net goal-his 21st of the season-with just 1:34 left to ice the 3-0 lead-and the game. The Bruins defense allowed seven shots against Washington in the third period, though none of the shots came close to challenging Bruins goalkeeper Tuukka Rask. "We battled hard," said Eriksson. "This was a great team effort and we had some really good chances." "Now we just need to keep doing that," he continued Tuesday night, the Bruins dominated the Florida Panthers 4-1 in a game that Boston won comfortably despite not being on top form. The Bruins had several near misses in the first couple of minutes, shooting twice wide of Florida goalkeeper Tim Thomas' net. Thomas, a former Bruins fan favorite and key member of the team's Stanley Cup victory in 2011, did not have the same success in his return to TD Garden on Tuesday Center Chris Kelly fired an effort on goal that had Thomas beat. Luckily for the goalkeeper, the shot sped just wide of his left-hand post. Boston got the jump just seven minutes, 29 seconds into the game. Center David Krejci skated in from the left side of the net toward the center of the goal and fired a shot into the right corner to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Krejci scored a goal midway through the second period to extend the Bruins' lead, and completed a hat trick with an empty-net goal late in the third period. Boston was certainly dominant in its margin of victory. However, coach Claude Julien recognized that the team still has room to improve its game. "I still thought defensively [we have] got to tighten up some more," he said. "I felt the second period wasn't a very good period for us. We kind of gave them an opportunity to get some momentum back even though we scored the only goal." "They were probably the better team that second period." The Bruins travel to Montreal tomorrow for a divisional matchup with the Montreal Canadiens before opening a three-game home stand versus the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and the Minnesota Wild next Monday. *
The women's softball team started the 2014 season in strong fashion, reeling off 25 runs in a sweep of a doubleheader over Newbury College on Feb. 23. The Judges built on that offensive momentum on Sunday, pouring in 21 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Southern Vermont College. Brandeis wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard during the nightcap. In the bottom of the first inning, utility infielder Madison Gagnon '16 started off a two-run rally with a single up the middle. Second baseman Liana Moss '17 then continued to impress in just her third collegiate game, smacking a double off the wall to bring Gagnon home and hand the Judges a 1-0 lead. Catcher Cori Coleman '15 added another run with an RBI single. In her collegiate debut as the starter, pitcher Emma Krulick '17 held Southern Vermont scoreless for two innings and allowed just three runs over five innings of work. While she coughed up a solo home run to Southern Vermont sophomore captain and second baseman Rachel Robtoy in the top of the third inning, the Judges added a few insurance runs in the bottom half with heads-up base-running. Center fielder Amanda Genovese '15 singled, stole second and then scored on an unearned error by freshman third baseman Mallory Celeste. Third baseman Anya Kamber '15 and Moss also scored on passed balls to lend the Judges a 5-1 lead. While Krulik unraveled in the fifth inning, surrendering two runs on a double down the right field line, Coleman and right fielder Madison Sullivan '16 took care of business. The duo added RBI singles in the bottom half of the fifth to provide a 7-3 lead that Southern Vermont failed to erase. Meanwhile in the first portion of the doubleheader, the Judges turned in a nine-run first inning. Genovese started the rally on an innocuous bunt single. After she crossed home following a Kamber ground-out to first base, the hit parade began. Moss started off the nine-hit streak with one crack of the bat, launching a solo home run to increase the lead to 2-0. Coleman and Sullivan turned in back-to-back RBI triples, and from there, the Judges offered up five more runs. Two innings later, Brandeis' bats awoke once more. After second baseman Leah McWilliams '14 and Genovese contributed back-to-back bunt singles, the offensive outburst resumed. Right fielder Danielle Novotny '16 smoked an RBI double down the left field line and Moss added to her impressive stat-line with a two-run triple. Brandeis then held a 14-0 lead and later secured the shutout. Starting pitcher Nikki Cote '15 and rookie Melissa Soleimani '17 combined for five innings of shutout ball. The Judges, now with a 4-0 record, look to continue to build on their success in a week-long road trip to Florida. The squad begins action with a doubleheader on Sunday versus Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and Salve Regina University.
After a 5-4 win at Chapman University on Feb. 20 and a 7-2 victory at Occidental College on Feb. 21, the men's tennis team looked to translate its West Coast success to the East Coast in a road match against Vassar College on Saturday. The Judges reeled off their second consecutive 7-2 win, relying on a 3-0 sweep in doubles competition and four strong singles performances. The women meanwhile failed to rebound from two straight defeats in California, dropping a 6-1 decision to Bryant University on Saturday. While Michael Arguello '17 dropped the No. 1 match in straight sets for the men, Brian Granoff '17 rebounded from a 6-4 loss in the first set to secure a victory over Vassar freshman Nick Litsky by taking the final two sets, 7-5, 6-2. Danny Lubarsky '16, after earning a 6-3 win in his first set over sophomore Christian Phelps, dropped the next two sets by 6-3 margins in a loss at the No. 3 position. From there, the Judges did not miss a beat. Alec Siegel '15, Michael Secular '15 and Jeff Cherkin '17 each won their next three matches to give Brandeis a 4-2 lead. It proved to be much of the same story in the doubles competition. Arguello and Lubarsky earned a tight 9-8 win-including a 5-0 tiebreaker-at the No. 1 position over Phelps and sophomore Daniel Cooper. The next two doubles tandems, though, cruised to victory. Siegel and Cherkin defeated their opponents by an 8-3 margin while Granoff and Secular rounded out the day with a dominating 8-1 win. Carley Cooke '15 started off the action for the women at the No. 1 position with a first-set win, but eventually dropped the match 2-1. That defeat seemed to set the tone for the rest of the Judges. Allyson Bernstein '14, Simone Vandroff '15 and Roberta Bergstein '14 proceeded to fall in straight sets to the Bulldogs. Emily Eska '15, though, saved the day at the No. 5 position and reversed the tide of defeats against rookie Briana Leonard. Eska persisted past a 7-5 loss in her first set to then win the match by margins of 6-1 and 11-9, respectively. The women, however, continued to struggle the rest of the way, failing to muster a victorious set in doubles competition. Bergstein and Sarita Biswas '16 came the closest, pulling to within a 7-6 margin, but ultimately could not get the job done in an eventual 8-6 loss. Both tennis squads will next travel to an invitational hosted by Middlebury College on Saturday.
On Feb. 8, Card Gym at Duke University in Durham, N.C. transformed into a maze of mats that featured several of the top NCAA Division I fencing squads, including the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University and the United States Air Force Academy. Five Brandeis University men's foilists-captain Julian Cardillo '14, Ethan Levy '15, Noah Berman '15, Toby Gray '16 and Len Grazian '17-entered the maze on a mission. "The goal since the start of the season had been to go toe-to-toe with some of the best Division I squads in the country: Sacred Heart University, Yale University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina," said Cardillo. Card Gym presented an opportunity to achieve that goal, and on that February day, the foilists-along with the rest of the Brandeis fencing squads-seized it. Cardillo, Berman and Levy went a combined 8-1, and for the first time since 2006, the Judges left Durham with a 15-12 win against the host Blue Devils and a 17-10 victory against the UNC Tar Heels. "Everyone clicked together at Duke ... you don't have to rely on just one squad, but you can trust everyone-the epeeists and saberists included-to excel," Levy said. "At the end of the day, the five of us are hard-nosed competitors who don't like to lose." Since an initial 32-8 showing from the foilists at the New England Fall Collegiate Championships on Nov. 2, that has proven to be the case. It was at Duke, though, where something happened-where Cardillo's vision became a reality. "It blew me away" he said. "We took it to a whole new level at Duke and it is my belief that this is the best team since I've been here." Three years earlier, as Cardillo strode onto the fencing mats at Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, he joined a team comprised largely of upperclassmen. He then witnessed a transformation that began in fall 2011 with two new foil recruits. Berman, a former soccer player-turned-fencer, arrived from the local clubs at Stanford University and Levy, after turning to the sport in ninth grade, entered Brandeis with just four years of fencing experience. There were two spots to fill, though, in creating this ideal squad. Enter Gray, a walk-on to the team in 2012 who, as Levy said, "has grown so much and emerged as a real threat in meets." And enter Grazian, the promising rookie out of the Chicago fencing clubs who won his first seven collegiate matches and took down Michele Caporizzi, the Italian national world champion, in December. Berman noted that the foil squad represents an ideal mix of "elder statesmen" and rising stars. "This team is really young and that is good for prosperity," he explained. "But having elder statesmen is helpful," he continued, "especially to pass down knowledge of the sport, a critical mental edge and what to expect from each tournament." Also, for the first time in three years, depth no longer proved to be an issue. Grazian and Gray now had the ability to step in and secure major victories along with-and sometimes in place of-the three starters. By Jan. 25, at the second Northeast Conference Meet, the five foilists-along with the rest of the Brandeis fencers-were ready to hit the ground running against top foes. That they did. The squad compiled a 33-9 record at that meet and the foundation had been set: not only for wins over Duke and UNC, but also, a second consecutive first-place finish at the New England Collegiate Championships and a bronze medal at the United States Collegiate Squad Championships. "This all comes down to the fact that we have really good depth," added Cardillo. "We have the experience to know what it takes to compete at that level." Their success also comes down to coach Bill Shipman's 30-plus years of experience at the helm of the Brandeis fencing squads. "He is so knowledgeable about the sport which is helpful for the younger fencers," Gray added. "Most importantly, he knows when and when not to step in." The foil squad now approaches the NCAA Regional Championships at Wellesley College on Sunday in a landmark position. Even in a division that, in featuring half of the U.S. National Team, is reputed to be the toughest in the tournament, Cardillo and Berman are both well-positioned to secure bids to the National Tournament later this month. Levy, Gray and Grazian, with their recent successes, are also prepared to use that momentum to make a statement. However, there is a caveat ahead. For Cardillo, this is the end of the maze of collegiate fencing. Even as he prepares to graduate and the Judges lose their senior captain, the foilists are ready to build on the transformation that he started. "Everyone on foil has improved year after year," said Grazian. "As long as we continue to push each other, [Cardillo's] legacy will be intact and we can keep this trend going." Consider this the foil squad's next mission to accomplish. *
After a 5-4 win at Chapman University on Feb. 20 and a 7-2 victory at Occidental College on Feb. 21, the men's tennis team looked to translate its West Coast success to the East Coast in a road match against Vassar College on Saturday. The Judges reeled off their second consecutive 7-2 win, relying on a 3-0 sweep in doubles competition and four strong singles performances. The women meanwhile failed to rebound from two straight defeats in California, dropping a 6-1 decision to Bryant University on Saturday. While Michael Arguello '17 dropped the No. 1 match in straight sets for the men, Brian Granoff '17 rebounded from a 6-4 loss in the first set to secure a victory over Vassar freshman Nick Litsky by taking the final two sets, 7-5, 6-2. Danny Lubarsky '16, after earning a 6-3 win in his first set over sophomore Christian Phelps, dropped the next two sets by 6-3 margins in a loss at the No. 3 position. From there, the Judges did not miss a beat. Alec Siegel '15, Michael Secular '15 and Jeff Cherkin '17 each won their next three matches to give Brandeis a 4-2 lead. It proved to be much of the same story in the doubles competition. Arguello and Lubarsky earned a tight 9-8 win-including a 5-0 tiebreaker-at the No. 1 position over Phelps and sophomore Daniel Cooper. The next two doubles tandems, though, cruised to victory. Siegel and Cherkin defeated their opponents by an 8-3 margin while Granoff and Secular rounded out the day with a dominating 8-1 win. Carley Cooke '15 started off the action for the women at the No. 1 position with a first-set win, but eventually dropped the match 2-1. That defeat seemed to set the tone for the rest of the Judges. Allyson Bernstein '14, Simone Vandroff '15 and Roberta Bergstein '14 proceeded to fall in straight sets to the Bulldogs. Emily Eska '15, though, saved the day at the No. 5 position and reversed the tide of defeats against rookie Briana Leonard. Eska persisted past a 7-5 loss in her first set to then win the match by margins of 6-1 and 11-9, respectively. The women, however, continued to struggle the rest of the way, failing to muster a victorious set in doubles competition. Bergstein and Sarita Biswas '16 came the closest, pulling towithin a 7-6 margin, but ultimately could not get the job done in an eventual 8-6 loss. Both tennis squads will next travel to an invitational hosted by Middlebury College on Saturday. *
The women's softball team started the 2014 season in strong fashion, reeling off 25 runs in a sweep of a doubleheader over Newbury College on Feb. 23. The Judges built on that offensive momentum on Sunday, pouring in 21 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Southern Vermont College. Brandeis wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard during the nightcap. In the bottom of the first inning, utility infielder Madison Gagnon '16 started off a two-run rally with a single up the middle. Second baseman Liana Moss '17 then continued to impress in just her third collegiate game, smacking a double off the wall to bring Gagnon home and hand the Judges a 1-0 lead. Catcher Cori Coleman '15 added another run with an RBI single. In her collegiate debut as the starter, pitcher Emma Krulick '17 held Southern Vermont scoreless for two innings and allowed just three runs over five innings of work. While she coughed up a solo home run to Southern Vermont sophomore captain and second baseman Rachel Robtoy in the top of the third inning, the Judges added a few insurance runs in the bottom half with heads-up base-running. Center fielder Amanda Genovese '15 singled, stole second and then scored on an unearned error by freshman third baseman Mallory Celeste. Third baseman Anya Kamber '15 and Moss also scored on passed balls to lend the Judges a 5-1 lead. While Krulik unraveled in the fifth inning, surrendering two runs on a double down the right field line, Coleman and right fielder Madison Sullivan '16 took care of business. The duo added RBI singles in the bottom half of the fifth to provide a 7-3 lead that Southern Vermont failed to erase. Meanwhile in the first portion of the doubleheader, the Judges turned in a nine-run first inning. Genovese started the rally on an innocuous bunt single. After she crossed home following a Kamber ground-out to first base, the hit parade began. Moss started off the nine-hit streak with one crack of the bat, launching a solo home run to increase the lead to 2-0. Coleman and Sullivan turned in back-to-back RBI triples, and from there, the Judges offered up five more runs. Two innings later, Brandeis' bats awoke once more. After second baseman Leah McWilliams '14 and Genovese contributed back-to-back bunt singles, the offensive outburst resumed. Right fielder Danielle Novotny '16 smoked an RBI double down the left field line and Moss added to her impressive stat-line with a two-run triple. Brandeis then held a 14-0 lead and later secured the shutout. Starting pitcher Nikki Cote '15 and rookie Melissa Soleimani '17 combined for five innings of shutout ball. The Judges, now with a 4-0 record, look to continue to build on their success in a week-long road trip to Florida. The squad begins action with a doubleheader on Sunday versus Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and Salve Regina University.
The women's softball team started the 2014 season in strong fashion, reeling off 25 runs in a sweep of a doubleheader over Newbury College on Feb. 23. The Judges built on that offensive momentum on Sunday, pouring in 21 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Southern Vermont College. Brandeis wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard during the nightcap. In the bottom of the first inning, utility infielder Madison Gagnon '16 started off a two-run rally with a single up the middle. Second baseman Liana Moss '17 then continued to impress in just her third collegiate game, smacking a double off the wall to bring Gagnon home and hand the Judges a 1-0 lead. Catcher Cori Coleman '15 added another run with an RBI single. In her collegiate debut as the starter, pitcher Emma Krulick '17 held Southern Vermont scoreless for two innings and allowed just three runs over five innings of work. While she coughed up a solo home run to Southern Vermont sophomore captain and second baseman Rachel Robtoy in the top of the third inning, the Judges added a few insurance runs in the bottom half with heads-up base-running. Center fielder Amanda Genovese '15 singled, stole second and then scored on an unearned error by freshman third baseman Mallory Celeste. Third baseman Anya Kamber '15 and Moss also scored on passed balls to lend the Judges a 5-1 lead. While Krulik unraveled in the fifth inning, surrendering two runs on a double down the right field line, Coleman and right fielder Madison Sullivan '16 took care of business. The duo added RBI singles in the bottom half of the fifth to provide a 7-3 lead that Southern Vermont failed to erase. Meanwhile in the first portion of the doubleheader, the Judges turned in a nine-run first inning. Genovese started the rally on an innocuous bunt single. After she crossed home following a Kamber ground-out to first base, the hit parade began. Moss started off the nine-hit streak with one crack of the bat, launching a solo home run to increase the lead to 2-0. Coleman and Sullivan turned in back-to-back RBI triples, and from there, the Judges offered up five more runs. Two innings later, Brandeis' bats awoke once more. After second baseman Leah McWilliams '14 and Genovese contributed back-to-back bunt singles, the offensive outburst resumed. Right fielder Danielle Novotny '16 smoked an RBI double down the left field line and Moss added to her impressive stat-line with a two-run triple. Brandeis then held a 14-0 lead and later secured the shutout. Starting pitcher Nikki Cote '15 and rookie Melissa Soleimani '17 combined for five innings of shutout ball. The Judges, now with a 4-0 record, look to continue to build on their success in a week-long road trip to Florida. The squad begins action with a doubleheader on Sunday versus Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and Salve Regina University.
On April 15, 2010, a vision came to fruition. Shaina Gilbert '10 watched from the sidelines as students squared off against staff for a novel fundraising event known as "Hoops for Haiti." The Brandeis Haiti Relief Effort, now known as the Brandeis Haiti Initiative, staged the friendly basketball exhibition between staff and students to fundraise for relief efforts for a disaster-ravaged Haiti. The Haiti Relief Effort that year focused on support for three organizations, one of which proved to be Gilbert's Empowering Through Education camp. Founded in 2009, and based in Hinche, Haiti-the hometown of Gilbert's mother-the summer program sought to serve and educate 100 children in at-risk communities. Fast-forward to Saturday. Hoops for Haiti received an added boost in publicity this year from its affiliation with Brandeis' inaugural HOOPcoming week. Led by Stacy Finley '16 and Terry Shaipitisiri '16, the committee planned a series of spirit-based events, revolving around the Judges' two critical University Athletic Association games this past weekend, to rally the student body. Gilbert reflected on the sustained success of this event, a fundraising initiative that, each year, has continued to take Red Auerbach Arena by storm. "Even four years later, I am so glad that Hoops for Haiti is alive and kicking," she said about the event. Her words resonated as Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams led the student squad onto the court against a staff team coached by men's basketball guard Ruben Kanya '14. While Kanya had a fifth straight victory in mind for the faculty, he also expressed his appreciation for having the opportunity to participate in such a great cause. "It was an amazing experience to have the opportunity to coach the staff and faculty team in an environment raising money for a great cause," he said. "It was fun to see the different faces from all departments unite as one community." Kanya looked like he would have his way, though, in the first 10 minutes of the game. The students did not earn their first basket until the five minute, 42 second mark in the first half. Prof. Chad Williams (AAAS) drained a statement three-pointer from the right corner. Meanwhile, Cary Weir Lytle, associate director of employer relations at the Hiatt Career Center, and Darryl David '08, from the Office of Student Activities, continued to lead the charge, pacing the faculty to a 19-6 lead. The students would not be deterred. After a 6-0 run, the students found themselves down by just six points at the half. Adams' squad continued to claw back from seemingly insurmountable deficits in the second half, pulling to 25-16 and 29-24 margins. The staff, though, seemed to have the game in hand, boasting a 35-29 lead in the closing minute of the game. The students then benefited from a helping hand at the scorer's table. With the click of a button, the score suddenly stood at 35-35 and the outcome of the game hinged on the next basket scored. Vincent Asante '14, who has shined in countless meets on the track during his four-year career with the Judges, then took his talents to the basketball court. He drained the game-winning basket from inside the paint to clinch the 37-35 victory. The students, accompanied by Adams, stormed the court to the tune of "We Are the Champions." David, even while on the losing side, alluded to the enriching opportunity that Hoops for Haiti provides for both students and faculty. "As an alum and staff member, I am ecstatic every time I get to participate in the Hoops for Haiti initiative," he said. "Not only does it bring attention to a great cause in Haiti but also creates relationships among staff and the student body. As long as my body permits I will continue to support this event and aid in any way possible." While the students rejoiced, the true champions that night proved to be the 250-plus children in Gilbert's ETE camp who stood to benefit from the fundraising efforts. Their mission is now more pressing than ever. KIND Snacks, a major multinational food provider, is currently offering $10,000-as a part of the "Do the Kind Thing Initiative"-to support a project aligned with the ideals of social justice. ETE is a front-runner for the grant, and as the month-long voting period continues to pass, Gilbert elaborated on her program's ability to enrich and inspire children from throughout Haiti. "We have many eight to 12 year olds enrolled in our program and encourage them to make our nation better," she said. "We hope one day that they will be fearless leaders." Each year, as students and staff square off for the annual Hoops for Haiti title, that aspiration continues to become more of a reality.
Joel and Ethan Coen issue a poignant yet chilling homage to the early 1960s folk music scene in their latest box-office fare Inside Llewyn Davis, a film that had actually been screened at Brandeis last month by the program in Film, Television and Interactive Media Joel, particularly, in an interview with Time Magazine, had this to say about the inspiration behind their newest title character, a loosely-based adaptation of folk singer Dave Van Ronk: "What's interesting to us are the people you know that are very good at what they do but aren't necessarily successful." The Coens introduced their latest antihero to moviegoers this December in the form of Llewyn Davis, a gifted folk singer who fails to catch a musical break outside the confines of the Gaslight Caf?(c) in Lower Manhattan. Llewyn, impressively embodied by actor and singer Oscar Isaac, mesmerizes the Gaslight Caf?(c) crowd in the opening scene of the film with a soulful rendition of "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me," a tune that is met with a stirring, raucous round of applause. Yet, the Coen brothers then show us the other half of Davis' story, lending insight into the fact that "while [he] may be very good at what [he does, he is] not necessarily successful." After his song, Davis is assaulted by an unnamed assailant in the back alley, who then departs with the words: "You can have this cesspool." The plot of the film stems from this challenge: can Davis' get out of the "cesspool?" He is a homeless, penniless wanderer, resigned to bumming off of a dwindling network of friends, hoping against all odds that he can finally catch the musical break that thrusts him out of Greenwich Village. As with every antihero, it seems the fate of Davis' quest is sealed from the start. He wears on the good will of his friends and fellow folk singers-Jean (Carey Mulligan) and Jim (Justin Timberlake)-and unwittingly signs away the royalties to a Columbia Records musical gig that could have changed everything. With no options left, he hitches a ride to Chicago to pursue the approval of Bud Grossman (F. Murray Abraham), a mythic club owner who holds the keys to Davis' salvation. The ensuing road trip from New York to Chicago unfolds like a chillingly perverse Kerouac tale, populated by several of the Coens' favorite sinister actors-including the Neal Cassady look-alike at the wheel (Garrett Hedlund) and the grandiose, wheezing jazzman (John Goodman) on his deathbed in the back. It is also no coincidence that his orange tabby cat, fittingly named Ulysses, rests at his side, a testament in my mind to James Joyce's own nomadic, troubled protagonist-Stephen Dedalus. Yet, the structure of the plot, a haphazardly constructed narrative bereft of any chronology and any form also reflects the lost, confused nature of Davis' road trip. The Coens propose this illusory end goal of musical fame in Chicago, an element that detracts from a well-crafted film. In the end, it's not about your typical cinematic plot, it's about the rise and fall of Llewyn Davis. Inside Llewyn Davis is reminiscent of the Coen Brothers' older works: the central quest of the enigmatic, morally ambiguous antihero, the beautifully surrealist landscapes and the gratifyingly clever literary subtext. However, this time, they have done something just a bit different. This type of film is something that I have not yet seen in their expansive, 30-year body of work: this folk tale has a bit of reality to it. Unlike the biblical deserts of No Country for Old Men or the Western fantasy of True Grit, Inside Llewyn Davis is layered in an authentic folk scene in Greenwich Village, populated by the soft-spoken singers like Jean, Jim and Davis himself who defined a bygone era in New York City. The score, following "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me," is breathtaking, a thoroughly researched product of the pre-Bob Dylan folk tradition. The film, in a sense, has a documentary feel to it, a niche that the Coens have not yet explored in a craft mostly inspired by fantasy and imagination. For me, that makes Inside Llewyn Davis a one-of-a-kind film in the Coen canon and also indicates something else: the Coen brothers are unlike their cast of antiheroes. They are really good at what they do-but are also successful at it.
Women's basketball forward Maria Jackson '17 almost looked like she could do it again. Jackson led the Judges with a career-high 18 points in a 73-35 rout of the University of Massachusetts Boston on Jan. 6. On Saturday, in her team's game against New York University, she guided the Judges to a 25-24 lead at halftime, contributing six points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. She traded baskets in the first half with the Violets' star sophomore guard Riley Wurtz. However, at the start of the second half, Jackson lost her touch and Wurtz continued to show the hot hand, leading NYU on a quick 10-0 run. Brandeis failed to truly recover, dropping their University Athletic Association opener by a tight 67-57 margin. Brandeis stormed into Coles Sports Center with momentum on its side. In the first half, the Judges matched each run the 11-1 Violets had to offer. A 6-0 NYU lead soon turned into a 7-6 Judges advantage. The Violets surged ahead to a 22-15 lead, but again, Brandeis had an answer, countering with its own 10-0 run. At halftime, the Judges were primed for a major upset, looking to deal the Violets just their second loss of the season. Brandeis' defense was firing on all cylinders, limiting the prolific NYU offense to just a 27.5 shooting percentage. Jackson stated that the squad was in its most ideal situation here. "As a team we decided to really work on playing as a cohesive unit and playing for each other. We want our game to be five people on the court being successful together," she said. However, the game proved to be a tale of two halves. The Violets' sizable 48-35 rebounding advantage and the Judges' 15 turnovers ultimately determined the outcome of the game. NYU, using its 10-0 run to open the second half would not relinquish the lead. Yet, with four minutes, 32 seconds left, guard Janelle Rodriguez '14 nailed a jumper that brought the Judges within striking distance. NYU had one last run in store, reeling off five uncontested points to secure the victory. Rodriguez led the team with 13 points while Jackson once again reached double digits, recording 10 points and three steals. Center Angela Miller '14 led the Judges with eight rebounds in the loss. The Judges fall to 6-6 after securing three wins in their past four games. Brandeis also fell to Trinity College on Jan. 4 in a 71-57 decision. Meanwhile, against UMass Boston on Jan. 6, the outcome was all but certain from the first minute. The Beacons looked lost on offense, missing their first 17 shots. Junior center Kristin Morrison secured the first basket with just 5:36 left in the first half, but by then Brandeis had run away with the game. The Judges were up 28-10, and by the second half, Brandeis had all of the momentum. After two quick UMass Boston baskets to trim the deficit to 28-18, the hosts raced out on a 10-0 scoring run. By the 7:43 mark, the lead was up to 31 points after a smooth break-away layup from rookie guard Paris Hodges '17. From there, the Judges cruised to a 73-35 victory. Jackson led the offensive outburst, securing 18 points on seven-of-10 shooting. Forward Nicolina Vitale '14 also recorded double digits, scoring 13 points and, additionally, securing a team-high three steals. Hodges and Miller were effective on the boards, contributing seven rebounds apiece. Just two days earlier against Trinity, though, it was a different story. In that game, Brandeis failed to gain control. The first half was a back-and-forth affair, featuring four ties and six lead changes, the last of which resulted in a 35-30 Trinity advantage. After recording the first two scores of the second half, Trinity eyed a chance to put the game to bed. The Judges made sure that was not the case, answering with four forced turnovers and a 14-4 scoring run. Guard Kasey Dean '14 brought the Judges back into the game after a 12-2 Trinity run, converting a steal into a layup that cut the deficit to 55-48 with just under nine minutes remaining. Trinity, though, made sure Brandeis wouldn't score again, securing a 71-57 win. Vitale led the team with 14 points and Dean proved to be a presence in the paint with six rebounds. Brandeis looks to recover from its second-half collapse in New York with two critical UAA matchups. Jackson, in looking ahead to future matchups, noted how important it will be to move past adversity. "The conference schedule will definitely be tougher than what we've had so far so we just plan to focus and keep working in practice and get better every day. Our team is never one to give up. We always work hard and play until the end and we are going to need that for our next games," she said. The Judges will travel to play the University of Washington in St. Louis on Friday, and then the University of Chicago on Sunday.
The New England Patriots have made a habit this season of earning victories when teams least expect it. For the fifth consecutive game, New England stared at a deficit-this one being 6-0-at halftime on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Patriots managed to secure wins in three of their past four contests, but after falling behind 26-14 their chances at a fourth win seemed incredibly unlikely. New England coach Bill Belichick even conceded that fate seemed to be on the Browns' side. "We had to make just about every play that we made at the end today," he said. "Fortunately, we did.'' Fortune was certainly in play as New England-trailing 26-21-set up an onside kick sequence, a play they had not converted since Jan. 1, 1995 in an American Football Conference playoff game against the Browns. History repeated itself as Browns running back Fozzy Whittaker fumbled and lost control of the ball. Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington then swooped in from behind, picking up the ball and regaining possession. New England quarterback Tom Brady-as he has done time and time again this season-took care of business in the fourth quarter. Brady began the drive with a 10-yard laser to wide receiver Danny Amendola, and then fate intervened once more. The Patriots earned a controversial pass interference call, moving the ball to the Cleveland one-yard line. Brady fired off a quick touchdown pass to Amendola, which gave New England to a tight 27-26 lead. After a failed two-point conversion, Cleveland had a chance to counter with some late-game heroics. Browns quarterback Jason Campbell-after 18-yard and 13-yard passes, respectively, to tight end Jordan Cameron-brought his squad to New England's 40-yard line with one second remaining in the game. Kicker Billy Cundiff, staring at a 58-yard field goal attempt, had his work cut out for him. The kick sailed far from the goalposts, sealing yet another improbable Patriots victory. In the first half, it looked like a battle of the defenses. Cleveland's defense shut down a Patriots offense that had put up 68 points in its past two games. The Browns were only able to break through on two field goals from Cundiff. At the half, the Browns had the 6-0 edge, and by the third quarter, the visitors had things under control. With 10:15 remaining in the third quarter, Campbell launched a 40-yard pass on the left side of the field to wide receiver Gary Barnidge to stretch the lead to 12-0. New England countered with a field goal with 1:37 remaining, but just 12 seconds later, Campbell fired off a pass to wide receiver Josh Gordon near the sideline. The rookie would not be deterred, taking the ball down the field for an 80-yard touchdown to stretch the Browns lead to 19-3. However, Patriots running back Shane Vereen kept things close, scoring with just six seconds left in the third quarter. After a successful two-point conversion and a 19-11 deficit, New England still had life. The Patriots inched closer, benefiting from a 50-yard field goal from kicker Stephen Gostkowski to cut the lead to 19-14 with 5:43 remaining. Campbell then re-captured the momentum, for a four-yard touchdown with 2:39 remaining, but the lead would not last. Though the team emerged with a big win, New England was not all smiles after the victory. Tight end Rob Gronkowski tore his A.C.L.-a significant injury for the Patriots that looks to end Gronkowski's season. The Patriots improve to 10-3 on the season and remain in second place in the AFC, while the Browns fall to 4-9. New England takes on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.