PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – Hannah Nagashima scored just over eight minutes in, and that was all 21st-ranked University of Rochester women's soccer needed to defeat the 13th-ranked Brandeis University Judges, 1-0, on Saturday at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
 
The win gave Rochester (7-1-5, 1-1-1 UAA) its first conference victory of the year, and kept the 13th-ranked Judges (7-3-3, 0-3 UAA) winless in conference play.
 
Just over eight minutes in, on Rochester's first shot of the contest, Nagashima gave the Yellowjackets a lead they'd never relinquish. The Yellowjackets put the pressure on the Judges' defense early, pushing forward into the offense zone.
 
And after Femke Laudy stole the ball away from Brandeis in the midfield, the first year passed it over to Sydney Holmes on the left side. Then, after a pass to Natalie Santangelo, the sophomore tapped it to Nagashima, who lofted a tremendous shot towards the far, back corner of the goal, out of the reach of Amaya Logan to give URochester a 1-0 lead.
 
Rochester then nearly made it 2-0 just shy of the 23rd minute, as Claudia Ferreira turned upfield on a throw-in and found Cece Vassallo with a cross wide open in the box, but the senior's shot sailed high for a goal kick.
 
Defensively, Sydney Moore was called on to make a pair of saves in the first half, stopping a right-footed shot from Grace Carman at a tough angle in the 22nd minute, as well as a left-footed shot from Samantha Kipperman aimed at the near post in the 29th minute.

URochester would put one more shot on goal down the stretch of the first half, as Laudy found Delia McMullen ahead for a shot, but the first-year couldn't get enough on it to push it past Logan in goal.

Then, and after the 'Jacket defended a pair of corners in the 38th minute, Claire Baim's heading in the waning moments of the first half went wide off a late free kick from Remi Cherkas.

In the second half, Rochester held the Judges to just five shots, just two of which were on goal, and eight overall for the contest.

The Yellowjackets blocked two early attempts from Peterly Leroy in the second half, while Nagashima missed another volley wide as Rochester looked for a second goal right out of the gate to start the second half.

Moore came up with her best save of the second half in the 62nd minute. Rochester defended a Brandeis corner just minutes earlier, but the Judges would put the pressure on once again, with a left-wing cross coming in from Laurene Creteau.

Ferreira got a foot on Creteau's cross but not enough to clear it, allowing Carman to fire a point-blank shot on goal. However, Moore came up with a diving save, forcing a corner and keeping Rochester up by a goal.
 
Rochester would defend the ensuing corner, and another in the 67th minute as they held the Judges to just two shots over the final 30 minutes of the second half.

On the opposite end, Holmes forced a pair of saves by Penny Alston as Rochester looked to double its lead, while Riya Kunderan put another on net in the 84th minute.

Holmes' first attempt came from long range off her left foot in the 74th minute, while the second came on a header off a UR free kick in the 75th minute, forcing Alston to make a leaping save.

Brandeis would put together one last opportunity in the 89th minute, but Moore saved an in-swinging shot from the left foot of Creteau, helping seal the 1-0, shutout victory for the Yellowjackets.

Holmes, McMullen and Santangelo each had two shots to lead the 'Jackets, with Nagashima tallying the lone goal, and Santangelo the lone assist of the afternoon.

In goal, Moore made four saves for UR, while Logan and Alston split time for Brandeis, with the two combining for four saves as well.

The Yellowjackets continue their three-game conference homestand next Friday, Oct. 24, with a matchup against WashU at 7:30 p.m. inside Fauver Stadium.