Waltham, Mass. - Brandeis University sophomore
Mimi Theodore recorded her first collegiate hat trick today,
leading the Judges past the visiting Clark University Cougars, 5-1,
in a non-conference women's soccer matchup.
Brandeis (4-1-2) opened the scoring midway through the first half
in the 27th minute. Junior forward Tiffany Pacheco took space after
a ball was left for her by senior Melissa Gorenkoff. Pacheco split
two defenders and dribbled into the box. She fed the ball to
Theodore, who chipped the ball over Cougar senior netminder
Joanna
Clark (Windham, Maine). Brandeis finished the half
outshooting Clark, 12-4, but were only able to take the one-goal
lead into the break.
The Judges scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with
exactly 30 minutes left in regulation. Pacheco notched her
team-leading fourth goal of the season on a nice give-and-go with
sophomore Ali Theodore, Mimi's twin sister.
Clark (3-3) turned up their pressure in the next minute, and the
Cougars' hard work in the offensive zone paid off at the 61:07 mark
when Brandeis was called for a hand-ball in the box. Clark junior
Laura
Hedden (East Greenbush, N.Y.) shot the ensuing penalty
kick to her left, beating Brandeis goalkeeper Hillary
Rosenzweig.
The Judges scored three goals in the final 10:31 of the contest to
put the game away. Sophomore Alanna Torre headed home a Pacheco
corner kick at 79:29 to push the lead back to two goals. Mimi
Theodore and Gorenkoff combined on the final two goals. The first
came at 80:40 on a long ball by Gorenkoff from midfield that
Theodore one-touched home, and she completed the hat trick at the
86:03 mark by heading home a Gorenkoff cross.
Brandeis outshot Clark, 25-11, for the game. Rosenzweig earned the
win with six saves, though the penalty kick denied her the
opportunity to move into a first-place tie on the Judges' all-time
shutout list. Joanna Clark had seven stops in the losing effort for
the Cougars. The win was the 247th of the career of Brandeis
women's soccer coach Denise Dallamora, who is looking to become the
15th coach in Division III women's soccer history and the second
coaching in New England to reach the 250-win plateau.
The Judges, who have now outscored their opponents 16-3 at home,
are next in action on Thursday when they travel to Gordon College
at 3:30 p.m. Clark hosts Keene State on Wednesday at 4 p.m.