The women's soccer team did not know if it would be playing this past weekend due to the impact that Hurricane Sandy had in the Mid-Atlantic region.

However, when given the chance, the team made the most of its Saturday trip, defeating New York University 3-0. The win pushed the Judges' final regular season record to 13-4-2.

Additionally, the Judges found out on Monday that they had received an at-large bid to their third NCAA Divsion III Tournament berth.

Senior cocaptain and midfielder Zoe Siegel '13 was very impressed with the result of the regular season finale.

"We went into that game with very high expectations of the other team, and we felt that we needed to prove ourselves in that game [after losing to Carnegie]," she said. "We did that."

Noticeably absent from the score sheet over recent games, forward Dara Spital '15 returned to her goal-scoring ways in emphatic fashion.

After taking control of the ball in the middle of the field and dribbling past a defender, creating space on the left side of the penalty area, Spital fired a shot just inside the right post that beat NYU sophomore goalkeeper Meg Patton.
Spital's goal was just five minutes and 56 seconds into the contest, and the first of two on the day.

Seven of Spital's 12 goals so far this season have been game-winners. She leads the University Athletic Association in that category.

A little under 20 minutes later, Spital found the back of the net again. She collected a bouncing ball from midfielder Mary Shimko '14 and shot it towards the left corner of the net. The ball ricocheted off the post and into the back of the net with 24:13 on the clock.

The combined goalkeeping efforts of Francine Kofinas '13 and Michelle Savuto '15 were once again spotless after surrendering four goals to Carnegie Mellon University one week earlier.

The shutout increased the Judges' all time single season shutout record to 13 games.

Kofinas was tested in the waning moments of the first half by NYU senior forward Serra Tumay, sophomore forward Amelia Hammerl, and junior forward Leslie Smith.

However, she stood tall, making three of her season-high five saves in a game within the last five minutes before the interval, two of which were within the last minute.

Savuto, who replaced Kofinas in the second half, continued the strong goalkeeping, turning away three NYU shots, including one just 52 seconds into the second half.

While Siegel did not get the start, she made the most of her role as a substitute. Siegel came on in the 85th minute and immediately made an impact in the Judges' attack.

With time winding down and the 2-0 lead safe, the Judges were awarded a corner kick. Siegel played the corner into the middle of the penalty area for forward Megan Kessler '14, who tapped the ball back to left back Haley Schachter '16. Schachter converted the pass with just 1.9 seconds left in regulation for the first goal of her collegiate career.

Brandeis finished the match with a 21-13 shot advantage, getting 10 of its efforts on target as compared to eight for the host Violets. The Judges also earned four corners, while NYU registered six flag kicks.

The Judges finished 2-3-2 in UAA competition, good for fifth-place in the standings. That meant that the team, while finishing No. 5 in New England in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Rankings, benefited from playing in one of the strongest Division III soccer conferences in the country.

After returning from New York, the Judges, who were far from certain to make the NCAA Division III Tournament, had to wait until Monday afternoon to find out what tournament they would be playing in.

However, even before the good news arrived on Monday afternoon, both Siegel and Kofinas reflected positively on the season.

"Our season as a whole has been my best season yet, because of the girls on this team," said Siegel.
"It's been an honor to be a senior captain this year, and I look forward to the postseason."

For her part, Kofinas said prior to the selection of the 64-team pool that she was very happy with the way that the season turned out and would remember the season and her career fondly regardless of which tournament the Judges end up competing in.

"As for the season as a whole, I could not have asked for better teammates to end my career with," she said. "We have won games, we have broke records and we have become a family."

While the magnitude of being selected was very significant to the seniors, younger members of the teams understood the significance as well.

Forward Emma Taylor '15, who was one of many first years who were forced to learn on the fly last year, cited the strong personalities and desire of the team to improve on its performances.

"To bounce back from a season like last year says a lot about the character of the people on this team," she said.

"Every single person who has come in has made a difference. We've learned to play together as a team and we've shown a lot of great spirit in getting back to the tournament."

The Judges will continue their season in the first round of the tournament Saturdasy versus Union College at Amherst College.