Petrie Goal Not Enough as Blue Soccer Falls to No. 10 Brandeis, 3-1

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College soccer senior captain Kyla Petrie (Denton, Texas) scored her second goal of the season in the second half, but it wasn't enough, as visiting Brandeis University took a 3-1 victory over the Blue on Tuesday afternoon at the Wellesley Fields Complex. 

Brandeis, the No. 10 ranked team in the nation in the latest NSCAA Coaches Poll, improves to 9-0-1 on the season with the result. The Blue drop to 4-4-0 overall following their final non-conference game of the regular season. 

The Judges opened the scoring just 3:11 into the first half when senior Lea McDaniel (Phoenix, Ariz.) potted her team leading ninth goal of the season. McDaniel ripped home a volley on a one-time pass from classmate Julia McDermott (Hopedale, Mass.) on the play. Brandeis later doubled their first half advantage at 16:30, as junior Samantha Schwartz (Highland Park, Ill.) one-timed a pass from classmate Haliana Burhans (Charlotte, Vt.) to make the score 2-0.

Petrie helped the Blue get one back in the second half. First year Carley Phillips (Waterford, Conn.) found senior Maddie Carlborg (Burbank, Calif.) at the top of the penalty area on the Blue's only corner kick opportunity after the break. Carlborg then headed the ball down toward the left post where Petrie deposited it into the back of the net with just under half an hour remaining in the contest. 

Unfortunately for the Blue, the next goal would go to the visitors. With the Judges having earned a free kick from 30 yards away in the 84th minute, senior Michaela Friedman (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) dropped the ball into the top of the box. Sophomore Julia Matson (Rockland, Mass.) was waiting on the other end, where she powered a shot into the Wellesley net to make the score, 3-1.

The Judges finished the contest with a 12-5 advantage in shots and 7-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Brandeis senior Alexis Grossman (Syosset, N.Y.) finished with a pair of saves in the game. For the Blue, first year Olivia Reckley (Grosse Isle, Mich.) made five saves on eight shots on goal. 

Wellesley returns to New England Women's & Men's Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) play in their next contest on Saturday, October 1, at Wheaton. Game time is 1:00 PM. Brandeis is also in action on Saturday, they will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa. to face Carnegie Mellon at 11:00 AM.