CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Brandeis University women's soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals this afternoon to rally from a 1-0 deficit and defeat Farmingdale (N.Y.) State College, 2-1, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament today. With the win, the 20th-ranked Judges improve to 12-4-2 on the season and will meet #8 MIT in the second round tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Rams end their season with a 15-8 record.
In a rematch of a first-round tournament game played in 2018, Farmingdale took advantage of their best chance in the first half. The Rams' second-leading scorer, Julissa Martinez took a through-ball, staying just onside, and found herself one-on-one with Brandeis rookie keeper Hannah Bassan (Aventura, Fla./NSU University School). Martinez took a touch around the goalie and blasted into the back of the net from nine yards out in the 12th minute for her 13th goal of the season.
The rest of the first half was played mainly in the midfield, with Brandeis outshooting Farmingdale State, 3-2, but not putting any of their shots on goal.
The Judges increased their pressure in the second half, getting off a corner kick and four shots in the first five minutes. Brandeis's offensive pressure finally paid off in the 72nd minute. After an FSC foul in the Judges' defensive end just beyond midfield, a free kick was played into the middle of the field and found its way to sophomore forward Yasla Ngoma (North Plainfield, N.J. / Oak Knoll). Despite a host of Ram defenders converging on her, Ngoma fought through to find some open space, and she blasted a left-footed shot through FSC goalkeeper Chloe Kensell for her sixth goal of the season.
With the game equalized, both goalies made saves in the following 10 minutes to preserve the tie. Bassan denied Celina Schenk in the 77th minute, while Kensell stopped Brandeis senior Juliette Carreiro (Upton, Mass./Nipmuc Regional) on a header in the 79th minute and Ngoma on a flick in the 82nd.
The Judges broke through with the game-winning goal less than two minutes later. Ngoma drew a foul on the Rams just outside the box, allowing Brandeis a set piece. Junior midfielder Caroline Swan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine Richland) took the kick from the left of the net from 20 yards out, putting a perfect ball onto the head of Carreiro. She converted for her seventh goal of the season and her fifth game-winner, the 16th goal and seventh game-winner of her career. The Judges were able to see the game out from there, not allowing the Rams another shot the rest of the way. Bassan finished with two saves for the win, while Kensell had three stops in the losing effort.
With the win, the Judges advance to meet #8 MIT tomorrow in Cambridge. The Engineers defeated Maine Maritime, 4-0, today. Brandeis and MIT met earlier this season in the first game of the campaign, battling to a 2-2 draw in a downpour. The winner will advance to the third round of the tournament next weekend at a location to be determined.
