Last season, women's soccer forward Sofia Vallone '11 was third on the team with six goals and fourth on the team with three assists. So far this season, she seems to be picking up where she left off. Through three games this season, Vallone has two goals, both of which she scored in the Judges' Saturday afternoon win over rival Babson College.

Vallone will also have to adjust to playing a new position. Since her career started at Brandeis, Vallone has played midfield, but she has made the switch to forward this season.

"I've been playing forward all my life. I started playing midfield a little bit before I got here because we needed another midfielder, so it's nice to be back in a position that I normally play."

Vallone has been a key contributor throughout her time at Brandeis. She appeared in every game her rookie season and scored three goals, which was good for fifth on the team.

It looked like her sophomore season was going to be her breakout year, as she scored two goals in her team's first three games. However, she suffered a broken fibula and sprained ankle in the third game and ended up missing the rest of the season.

Vallone is now two years removed from that injury and wants to make sure her final season as a Judge is a special one.

"I think we definitely have a lot of expectations," she said. "It's amazing how quickly the time has gone but I think this is definitely the year that we can make into the NCAAs. I think we have really strong team chemistry. I think we're working together a lot as a team, and all in all I'm just really excited to see where this season's going. I think we're a lot stronger than we've been the past three years. I definitely think this is our year.