With 21 seconds left in the first half of the women's soccer team's University Athletic Association opener at Case Western Reserve University last Saturday, forward Tiffany Pacheco '11 fired the team's ninth shot of the half wide of the net, failing to break the scoreless tie. The Judges outshot the Spartans 9-2 in the first half but were unable to score a goal.

Then, just under 10 minutes into the second half, Case Western scored what would be the deciding goal in a 1-0 Spartan victory.

The goal capped an 0-2 week for Brandeis, which also lost 2-1 to Wellesley College in overtime last Wednesday. The losses drop the Judges to 5-3-2 on the season.

"Honestly, I think it was just us not being able to finish [against Case Western]. It wasn't really anything that Case did," midfielder Mimi Theodore '12 said. "I think they were physical and they obviously worked hard, but I think it was pretty much us just not being able to finish. . We definitely had our opportunities; we just couldn't capitalize on them."

The game-winning goal for the Spartans came off the foot of senior midfielder Caroline Garber from 10 yards out.

The ball got past goalie Jaclyn Weinstein '12, who started the second half in net in place of starting goalie Hillary Rosenzweig '10, who had one save in the first half.

Coach Denise Dellamora said she simply wanted to get Weinstein some playing time in the game and that the substitution was not based on either goalie's previous performance or injury.

The win was the first for the Spartans in UAA play in 19 games since 2006. This year, however, they have gotten off to a strong start with a record of 5-3-2.

During the game, the Judges outshot Case Western 14-4, including three shots in the last 5:01 of the first half. Forward Melissa Gorenkoff's '10 shot in the 40th minute was saved by Case Western sophomore goalie Anna Kennedy, and Pacheco had another shot go high in the 43rd minute.

Brandeis had chances in the second half as well to even the score, but Kennedy had another save while other shots were either off target or blocked by the defense.

Last year at home, the Judges also outshot Case Western by a wide margin of 22-6 but were able to convert four of those shots for an easy 4-0 win.

"They're a little better team [this year]," Dallamora said of Case Western. "Their goalkeeper was a little bit better, stronger. They defended us a little better, so they did a better job and we just didn't find our way into the net."

The Judges faced tough challenges in the UAA last season. They finished 8-4-1 outside of conference play last year, including a 6-2-1 start, but in the UAA they went only 3-3-1 and finished fourth in the conference.

"When we get to UAA [opponents], they're a lot more physical, faster, and I think we just have to stay focused, just work on what we've been working on throughout the whole year with every other team and just kind of go into each game knowing that we have a chance to win," Theodore said.

Last Wednesday night, the Judges faced similar defeat and fell to Wellesley in overtime.

Brandeis outshot the Blue 12-2 in the first half but only could put one goal on the board, a shot from Pacheco off an assist from midfielder Mimi Theodore in the third minute.

Wellesley tied the game in the second half on a header from sophomore back Erin Simmons. The game remained tied until just 15 seconds into the first overtime period when Blue rookie midfielder Megan Turchi hit a shot from 25 yards out just over Rosenzweig and under the crossbar for the game-winning goal.

"I think the teams [this week] played us what they call low pressure, which means they just drop into the box when they lose possession, . and it's not very easy to find opportunities. Although we did find some, we just didn't finish well," Dallamora said.

The Judges will look to bounce back tomorrow at Tufts University at 4 p.m. before their UAA home opener Saturday night against the University of Rochester at 7:30 p.m.

The team will not play again at home until Oct. 30, when it hosts Washington University in?St.?Louis as part of three straight UAA?games to close out the season.