BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Sasha Sunday's (Bethlehem, Pa.) golden goal early in the second overtime period lifted the sixth-ranked Brandeis University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in a non-conference contest played on Sweeney Field.
With the win the Judges improve to 3-1 while the Leopards fall to 1-2.
Brandeis controlled play in the early going, putting three shots on net, however, all three were stopped by junior Christie Fleming (Braintree, Mass.). Wentworth had a bid in the 36th minute off a corner kick play, however junior Madyson Reno (Simi Valley, Calif.) put her shot just wide of the frame. In the 40th minute, a header by sophomore Katie Hayes (Eau Claire, Wisc.) nearly gave the Judges a 1-0 lead, however it went to the right of the net.
Brandeis' best chance to take a lead came in in the 64th minute when a foul in the box resulted in a penalty kick. However, senior Haliana Burhans' (Charlotte, Vt.) went off the right post to keep it a scoreless game. The Judges kept peppering Fleming with shots, including when Burhans had a header from right in front but the game remained scoreless.
In overtime, Wentworth had a corner kick in the 95th minute. Junior Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.) served the ball to sophomore Jess Poratti (Essex Junction, Vt.), whose shot attempt was blocked. The rebound came out to sophomore Julie McKenna (West Hartford, Conn.), whose shot went high. Moments before the horn sounded, Brandeis nearly scored, however freshman Daria Bakhtari's (Wilmington, mass.) shot went off of the crossbar.
Sunday's game winner came off of the Judges having possession deep in the Leopard zone. Junior Maddie Marx (Winchester, Mass.) slid a pass across the right side where Sunday put a shot inside the right post.
Sophomore Sierra Dana (Lombard, Ill.) didn't need to make a save while Fleming made eight stops. Brandeis had a 24-8 shot advantage and a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.
Wentworth hosts UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday.
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