Going into the women's soccer team's game last Saturday against University Athletic Association foe Case Western Reserve University, forward Sofia Vallone '11 already had three two-goal games this season. But against the Spartans, she finally got a hat trick.

"I was jumping up and down; I was so happy," Vallone said of her reaction when she scored her third goal of the game. "I've been waiting for it all season. There have been lots of two-goal games, and I've just been waiting for that third goal to happen."

Vallone's three goals helped lead the Judges to a 5-1 win in the UAA opening game for both teams. The Judges, who are currently ranked No. 18 in the National College Soccer Coaches Association of America/HendrickCars.com Division III poll, are now 8-1-1 on the season after defeating Wellesley College 1-0 last Wednesday. It is the first time the Judges have been ranked in the poll since the 2004 season.

Brandeis once again got off to a hot start against Case, scoring two goals in the first 21 minutes of action. The first goal came in the 10th minute off the foot of forward Tiffany Pacheco '11, who hit a shot from 18 yards out into the upper left corner of the net. Vallone then scored her first goal of the day in the 21st minute on a shot from 25 yards out into the lower corner of net.

"I think we're just coming out a lot harder," Vallone said about her team's early goals in games. "We've never been nationally ranked [since our seniors have been here], and that's given us a lot of ammunition and motivation to just keep going. So every single game we play, we come out strong. We want to keep staying in the top 25, and we just want to keep winning games."

The Spartans, however, took back the momentum less than 2 minutes later. Case sophomore midfielder Kendra Simmons hit a blast of her own from 20 yards out just inside the right post.

The game remained 2-1 at the half, but Vallone got the Judges back up by two goals early in the second half. This time, she scored in the 59th minute off a give-and-go play after receiving a pass from midfielder Mimi Theodore '12.

Midfielder/defender Alanna Torre '12 then got in on the scoring in the 67th minute with a shot from 25 yards out that went just under the crossbar.

And then with just under 15 minutes left in the game, Vallone completed her first hat trick at Brandeis with yet another long goal, this one from just outside the goalie box.

"We have definitely been working on shooting everywhere, because we have the power to do it," Vallone said. "We have enough people that can shoot and score from outside the box, and if we can do it, then we want to just keep scoring, no matter how."

This game marks the third time in five game that the Judges have scored five goals or more. The team is now on a seven-game winning streak and a nine-game unbeaten streak.

Besides the strong offensive showing, the Judges have also gotten solid play from their defense during this unbeaten streak. The Judges have only allowed six goals in 10 games so far this season.

The defense was already playing without defender Jessica Schulman '12, who tore her ACL in the spring. Now the defense might have to survive a few games without defender Allison Maresca '12. Maresca rolled her ankle in practice on Thursday, though coach Denise Dallamora is hopeful that it is just a bad sprain. Defender Kelly Peterson '14 started in Maresca's place against the Spartans.

Vallone said that the team's defense has been solid over the course of the season.

"The defense has been doing a phenomenal job," Vallone said. "Kelly Peterson did a great job. She stepped right in. We're going to work more with her, and I think that we've had nothing but awesome plays and awesome hard work from the defense."

On Wednesday, the Judges defeated Wellesley 1-0. Rookie forward Hilary Andrews '14 scored her first collegiate game-winner in the 37th minute after midfielder Ellie Einhorn's '11 initial shot was stopped by Wellesley junior goalkeeper Sarah Grat. Andrews scored on the rebound for her second collegiate goal.

Goalkeeper Francine Kofinas '13 has also played all of the last two games between the pipes after splitting time with fellow goalkeeper Leah Sax '14 for much of the season.

The Judges will look to continue their win streak tomorrow at home against Tufts University at 7 p.m. before traveling to play University of Rochester Saturday at 5 p.m.