PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team opened its 2024 University Athletic Association schedule with a heartbreaking loss, as the 21^st-ranked Judges saw 4^th-ranked Carnegie Mellon score with just over three minutes left in regulation to take the 1-0 decision.

TEAM RECORDS AND RANKINGS

• Brandeis, 9-2, 0-1 UAA, #21 nationally in Division III by United Soccer Coaches
• Carnegie Mellon, 8-0-3, 1-0 UAA, #4 nationally

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Though the hosts controlled play, owning 61 percent of possession to 39 for the Judges, the game looked to be headed to a draw.
• The Tartans outshot Brandeis, 7-1, in a scoreless first half.
• Brandeis graduate student Rachel Ross (Portchester, N.Y./Somers) kept the game scoreless with a nice save early in the second, punching a ball ticketed for the upper 90 over the crossbar.
• Brandeis had a couple of nice attempts in a late five-minute span, with senior Rachel Watler (Stevenson Ranch, Calif./West Ranch) sending one of her signature free kicks just over the net  in the 76^th minute. Sophomore Ali Pennella (Stamford, Conn./Greenwich) put a shot on goal in the 81^st minute.
• The game went back and forth in the late going, and CMU found an answer on the counterattack. Audrey Bianco made a long run down the right side of the field into the 18-yard box. She crossed to Cecelia Dieterich, who put her shot just under the crossbar with an open goal with just 3:15 left on the clock.
• Brandeis was unable to sustain any pressure in the waning moments of the game.
• The Judges' two losses this season have both come to teams ranked #4 in the United Soccer Coaches poll at the time – MIT and now Carnegie Mellon.
• Ross made five saves in the losing effort, while the Tartans' Abby O'Connor had a clean sheet with one save.

UP NEXT

• The Judges return to Waltham for their home UAA opener against top-ranked Washington University on Friday, October 11, at 11 a.m.