The Judges snapped their two-game losing streak with a 1-0 shutout over Westfield State University Wednesday, righting the ship as the women’s soccer season winds down. This victory moved the 16th ranked team to 13-2-1 on the season.

Though a low scoring game, the Judges had a significant 15-2 shot advantage, with a similarly large 11-1 advantage on shots on the goal. The lone goal of the match came at the 60:27 mark, when forward Lea McDaniel ’17 scored on a penalty kick. Goalkeeper Alexis Grossman ’17 preserved her eighth shutout of the season with one save against Westfield St. This marks the 19th shutout of her career, and in turn a Brandeis women’s soccer milestone, as Grossman is now tied for second in program history.

Following a scorching start to the season, McDaniel has continued her strong play and has already scored the most goals in a campaign since the 14 scored by forward Dara Spital ’15 in 2012. McDaniel’s 11 goals follows up her team leading eight scored last season. With three games remaining in the season, McDaniel is already tied for 12th in program history for goals in a season and has a real chance to match Spital’s 14.

On the team level the Judges also have the potential to enter rarified air. Offensively, this team has also been among the most potent in recent memory. Through 16 games, they already rank 13th in Brandeis women’s soccer history with 38 goals, and with one more goal will tie the 1985, 1989 and 2012 teams for tenth all time. The team is also scoring a staggering 2.38 goals per game, which would be tied for fourth in program history if it holds through the rest of the season.  

With 13 wins already and three games to go, the team is on track to surpass last year’s 15 wins and perhaps even reach their program high 16 game win total, last reached in 2012. The Judges have a great opportunity to do this, as their next three opponents, Emory University, University of Rochester, and New York University, are all outside the DIII top 25. Led by McDaniel, this is a supremely talented offensive squad, and the talent has translated onto the field game after game, resulting in another great season.