WALTHAM, Mass. – A second half goal from Wellesley College soccer first-year Areet Rao (Palo Alto, Calif.) was not enough to erase a 2-0 deficit, as Brandeis University defended home field in a 2-1 game on Wednesday night.
The Judges (3-2) scored twice between the 24th and 28th minutes of the game. Initially, senior Tanvi Raju (Hyderabad, India) took a shot from the top of the box and buried a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Raju then assisted on a second goal, setting up first-year Valerie Bunde (Bloomington, Ind.) to tuck a shot on the top left corner beneath the post.
After being unable to score for 60+ minutes, Rao helped the Blue (3-2-1) cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 65:34 mark. Senior Mae Nephew (Duluth, Minn.) took a corner kick that perfectly set up Rao for a first career goal on the left side of the goal.
Brandeis held the Blue out of the goal for the final 24 minutes to hang on to a one-goal victory.
Sophomore Olivia Lore (Blue Bell, Pa.) made five saves over 90 minutes of action for Wellesley. Senior Amaya Logan (Jacksonville, Fla.) collected the win with a trio of stops for the Judges.
Each team will host a 1:00 PM game on Saturday, September 19. The Blue face off with Coast Guard Academy in a NEWMAC opening matchup. The Judges take on Mary Hardin-Baylor.
