With her team trailing 2-0 in the final minute of last Saturday's game against the Brandeis women's soccer team, University of Massachusetts at Boston rookie midfielder Taylor Sarsfield sent a shot wide of the goal. It was the first shot the Judges' defense surrendered in the entire game. By that point, Brandeis had already scored twice en route to a win over the visiting Beacons, the seventh straight game in which the Judges have not allowed a goal dating back to last season. Brandeis is now 3-0 on the season, having defeated Gordon College 1-0 last Wednesday.

"To have left off last season [without] allowing any goals scored on us, I think it kind of got us started on a higher note this year," defender and captain Meredith Milstein '09 said, "And I think [with coach] Denise [Dallamora] ... stressing defense at practice, we've really kind of gotten our act together and noticed what we usually do as mistakes and have been able to change in the game."

The victory came at a cost. In the 26th minute, midfielder Sofia Vallone '11 fractured her fibula while going for a rebound off forward Melissa Gorenkoff's '10 foot in front of the net. According to Dallamora, a UMass-Boston player kicked Vallone in the ankle while going for the ball. Vallone's shot went in to give the Judges a 1-0 lead, but she remained on the ground for several minutes before being carted off the field. Vallone said she will miss four to six weeks of play (see sidebar).

The injury to Vallone put a damper on another strong performance by the defense.

Goalie Hillary Rosenzweig '10 did not record a single save as defenders Taryn Martiniello '11, Allison Maresca '12 and Milstein teamed up in preventing UMass-Boston from creating any scoring opportunities.

The Judges maintained the one-goal lead at halftime and added a second goal in the 62nd minute when forward Tiffany Pacheco '11 headed Martinello's corner kick into the net for her team-leading third goal of the season.

"That's where my coach has me on corner kicks," Pacheco said of her position on the goal. "That just happened to be where the ball landed."

Brandeis spent much of the afternoon on the attack, outshooting UMass-Boston 20-1 and holding an 8-3 edge on corner kicks. Gorenkoff and midfielder Alanna Torre '12 had four shots each, while Vallone had three before her injury.

In the win over Gordon, Brandeis had a scoring opportunity early in the game when Gorenkoff's shot in the 23rd minute just hit the goal post. The Judges eventually broke through as midfielder Kaitlin Oldfield '12 chipped a ball over the defense to Pacheco, who then beat junior goalie Abby Ytzen to the ball and knocked it in.

Pacheco's goal would be all the Judges needed. They outshot Gordon 18-6, including 10-2 in the second half. Pacheco attempted two more shots on goal in the second half, but Ytzen stopped them both to keep Gordon within one of the Judges. Rosenzweig maintained the one-goal lead, collecting three saves to preserve the shutout.

Pacheco said the Judges still have room to improve but was confident in the team achieving stronger results.

"I think that we need to play a little bit more physical, but I think that we can keep up with [University Athletic Association] competition," Pacheco said. "I think we're going to make NCAAs this year."

The Judges continue their home stand tomorrow at 5 p.m. against Babson College before facing Springfield College Saturday at 1 p.m.