Following a strong 2-0 start to the season in their first week, the women’s soccer team truly took flight with an undefeated 3-0 week, highlighted by a 9-0 victory over Regis College on Sept. 8. This marks the program’s fourth 5-0 start to a season in the last five seasons. Within this run of success, this year’s team stands out as perhaps the best of the past four regular season teams. 

Through five games, the 2016 team has equaled the 2013 team for most goals scored (16) and is matched only by the 2014 team with five straight shutouts to start the season. With this team success has come immediate individual recognition, as goalkeeper Alexis Grossman ’17 was named University Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Co-Player of the Week and forward Lea McDaniel ’17 was named UAA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. 

Judges 3, Mass. (Boston) 0

The Judges wrapped up the week with a 3-0 victory over University of Massachusetts Boston at home on Saturday afternoon. Brandeis controlled most possessions and the pace of the game, getting off 28 shots with 14 on the goal. The Judges also continued to perform impressively on defense, keeping UMass Boston shotless, as they  did to Regis earlier in the week.

 The game’s three goals came from forward Cidney Moscovitch ’17, defender Hannah Maatallah ’19 for her second goal in as many games and forward Samantha Schwartz ’18. 

Judges 9, Regis 0

Playing at Regis, the Judges exploded for a 9-0 victory with four goals coming from McDaniel, including three goals in a three minute period at the start of the second half, the eighth quickest hat trick in NCAA Division III women’s soccer history. With this performance, McDaniel etched her name into Brandeis record books, as her four goals in the game matched a school record set by Kellie Vaughan ’89 in 1988, and her eight points tied both Vaughan and Sofia Vallone ’11.  

“I was able to see some open space and was just running into it while my teammates were doing a fantastic job taking on the defenders and putting the ball in dangerous areas, and I was able to finish those chances,” noted McDaniel, reflecting on the game a few days later via email.  

This win was very much a full-team effort, as Maatallah, midfielder Alexa Steele-Weintraub ’19, defender Katie Hayes ’20 and midfielder Haliana Burhans ’18 all scored goals. These counted as the first career goals for Weintraub and Hayes, who will hopefully see many more to come as the regular season progresses. 

McDaniel sees this element of the victory as particularly important. “Its [sic] always a good confidence builder to beat a team convincingly and to have so many different girls getting good opportunities and scoring!” she said.  

Judges 1, Bridgewater 0

The week began for the team with a 1-0 win at Bridgewater State University on Sept. 6. Despite the low score, the team controlled the game offensively, taking 21 shots compared to Bridgewater St.’s five, with 11 of those being shots on the goal relative to two for Bridgewater St. 

The lone goal was scored in the 13th minute of the game by McDaniel, continuing her already strong season. Not only was this her third goal in three games but, just as the other two, this, too, was a game-winner. This, however, was just the beginning for McDaniel and her incredible weekend.

The Judges look to continue this exceptional start to the season as they play twice at home against undefeated teams in the coming week, first meeting Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, Sept. 13 and then matching up with Wentworth Institute of Technology on Thursday, Sept. 15. 

The two teams will be fresh faces for the Judges, who have not faced either team in a handful of years. The Judges need to come prepared for anything that comes their way. 

The Judges are looking to surpass their previous streak of nine wins in a row, accomplished last year at the beginning of their season. If the Judges, and McDaniel, can pull through this week and keep their ferocious pace, their chances to exceed their win streak from last year will surely rise.  

Led by McDaniel’s unstoppable offensive production, Grossman’s refusal to give up a goal and contributions coming from all, the team is well on their way to a big season campaign.