WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team came within two seconds of opening their 2023 season with an upset of #18 MIT, but the Engineers were able to convert a penalty kick whistled just before time ran out to escape with a 1-1 draw. It was the season opener for both teams.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis: 0-0-1.
- MIT: 0-0-1, #18 in Division III in United Soccer Coaches poll.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the first half, it was a see-saw affair, but neither team had any solid chances. MIT had seven shots to Brandeis's 4 in the opener stanza, but only one of the Engineers shots was on goal, as junior Hannah Bassan (Aventura, Fla./NSU University School) made the only save.
- MIT turned up the pressure in the second half, when they outshot Brandeis, 14-3, including 6-1 in shots on goal.
- The best chance to score in the run of play during the contest came off the foot of MIT's Sean Luk in the 75th minute, but Bassan made the best of her six saves, punching the ball over the crossbar.
- MIT couldn't do much with the ensuing corner kick, allowing the Judges to start a counter-attack off a goal kick. Brandeis's work paid off, as senior Yasla Ngoma (North Plainfield, N.J./Oak Knoll) was hauled down in the box in the 76th minute.
- A penalty kick was awarded, and sophomore Elspeth Harker (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./The Albany Academies for Girls) stepped up to bury her first career goal into the high right back netting.
- Down by a goal, MIT continued to apply pressure, but it seemed Brandeis was not going to break.
- The Judges looked to have iced the game with a ball towards the MIT offensive corner with about 20 seconds left, but the Engineers quickly got the up the field in a last-ditch effort.
- A Brandeis defender impeded the MIT offense, and with two seconds left on the clock was determined to have committed a foul in the box. The visitors' Natalie Barnouw converted her PK, allowing MIT to escape with a draw.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Elspeth's goal was the first of her career. She was making her first career start.
- Bassan finished with six saves, coming within two seconds of her fourth career shutout. She was two save shy of a career-high.
- The late goal prevented Brandeis from snapping a four-match winless streak against the Engineers.
UP NEXT
- The Judges are back in action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Fitchburg State University.
