Waltham, Mass. – September 8, 2012 – The Springfield College women’s soccer team lost for the first time in the 2012 campaign as it fell on the road to Brandeis, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon.

The Pride was playing for the first time in a week after having a mid-week match against Rhode Island College postponed due to field conditions. Springfield is now 2-1 on the season and was ranked 23rd in this week’s NSCAA National Poll. Brandeis won its fourth-straight game to improve to 4-0.

Springfield held a 16-13 advantage in shots for the game and a 6-3 cushion in corner kicks.

In an evenly played first half, Springfield outshot Brandeis, 10-9, but eight of the Judges attempts were on goal. The Pride nearly got on the board early, when a shot from junior Vicki DiNatale hit the underside of the crossbar but did not go fully over the line. Erin Greenstein made the first five saves that were needed of her, but Dara Spital finally broke the deadlock in the 31st minute. After Brandeis rookie MelissaDarling had her initial shot saved, there was a scramble in the goal mouth. Another rookie, Chelsea Van Baush tipped the ball to Spital, who notched her fourth goal of the season.

After senior Francine Kofinas made two saves for the Judges in the first half, sophomore Michelle Savuto opened the second with four stops in the first 21 minutes. SavutoÂ's key save came at the 66-minute mark, when she dove to tip a shot from Springfield’s Nina Vital just wide of the post. She followed it up with a clean catch off the foot of Erica Donnelly on the ensuing corner kick.

Spital connected for an insurance goal in the 79th minute,converting a nice through ball from Darling with a hard low shot.

Springfield outshot Brandeis,16-13, and Greenstein finished with eight saves, but Kofinas (two saves) and Savuto (four saves) combined for BrandeisÂ's fourth shutout of the season,matching their total from 2011.

Springfield is at local rival Western New England on Thursday at 4p.m.