No. 5 Tartans Begin UAA Play with 2-0 Win at #10 Brandeis

(WALTHAM, Mass.) - In a battle of nationally ranked teams, the fifth-ranked Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team began University Athletic Association (UAA) play with a 2-0 victory at 10th-ranked Brandeis University. The Tartans are now 9-0-1 while the Judges drop their first contest and are 9-1-1.

The first half ended with no score change as the Tartans took four shots with one on goal and the Judges recorded one shot that was off frame.

In the second minute of the second half, the Tartans were awarded a free kick that sophomore Tori Iatarola (West Dundee, Ill./Loyola Academy) buried in the back of the net for the game's first goal and her second of the season.

Junior keeper Katie Liston (Lakewood, Ohio/Montessori HS at University Circle), who returned to the field for the first time since September 5, made a save on a shot by Holly Szafran shortly after Iatarola's goal.

The Tartans added to the lead in the 58th minute when a foul was called on Brandeis inside the 18-yard box resulting in a penalty kick opportunity for the Cardinal and Gray. Senior Louisa Pendergast (Snohomish, Wash./Glacier Peak) stepped up and finished the shot for her second PK conversion of the year and fourth goal of the season.

The Tartans had two other shots saved before Brandeis put another shot on goal that Liston stopped in the 68th minute. Liston finished with six saves for the game, recording her third shutout in as many appearances this season.

A home game is next for the Tartans, as they return to Pittsburgh for an 11:00 a.m. battle with New York University as the campus celebrates Ceilidh Weekend.