Women's soccer kicks off season Tuesday against MIT

Melissa Gorenkoff '10

Brandeis athletics starts its 2009-10 campaign at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 when the women's soccer team takes on MIT at home. The women's squad is coming off back-to-back ECAC New England titles, and now the Judges are looking to take the next step.

Head coach Denise Dallamora, in her 30th season on the sidelines, loses just two starters from a squad that finished 13-7-2 overall, 3-3-1 in the UAA, good for fourth place.

Brandeis will be led by senior forward Melissa Gorenkoff, a two-time second-team All-Association selection. She led the UAA with nine assists, was third with 25 points and tied for sixth with eight goals in 2008. Gorenkoff enters her senior campaign 10th on the University's all-time scoring list and third in career assists.

Teammate and All-UAA honorable mention Tiffany Pacheco also landed on the 2008 UAA scoring leader-board with eight goals (tied for 6th) and 20 points (8th). Fourteen different players scored goals for the Judges last season, so the team expects more balanced scoring in 2009.

The Brandeis defense, which recorded a shutout in 11 of its 22 contests, will be anchored by All-UAA honorable mentions Taryn Martiniello, a junior, and Francesca Shin, a sophomore. Senior goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig ranked third in the association in saves and save percentage and tied for the UAA lead with nine shutouts.

Brandeis fans in attendance will also get to check out the new Brandeis athletics logo, which will be featured on the game program.