WALTHAM, Mass. – In a battle of streaking teams, the host Brandeis University women's soccer team defeated the top-ranked squad in New England from Bowdoin College, 1-0, on Gordon Field today.

The Judges won their eighth in a row to improve to 8-1, while the Polar Bears, ranked 11th in Division III by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, fall to 6-1.

The first half of the contest was evenly matched, with much of the action coming in the middle third of the field. Brandeis outshot Bowdoin, 4-3, but the Polar Bears had the two best opportunities, putting their final two shots on goal. Bowdoin rookie Bridgit Bergin had a direct shot from 25 yards out in the 44th minute. Then, just 20 seconds before the half expired, Brandeis senior Michelle Savuto stoned Bergin again off a corner kick.

Brandeis came out in the second half and maintained better possession of the ball, eventually outshooting the visitors, 9-2. The Judges had the first three shots of the second, but Bowdoin goalie Bridget McCarthy made the only save needed of her in that stretch on a straight-forward attempt in the 47th minute.

Bowdoin's best chance came in the 71st minute. After earning a deep throw-in, the ball worked free to Alexa Yurick just inside the six-yard box. She sent the ball across the goal mouth, but Brandeis keeper Alexis made a diving save to punch the ball wide of the far post. The Judges fended off the ensuing corner kick to keep Bowdoin at bay.

Brandeis finally solved McCarthy in the 79th minute. After a corner kick from the right side of the field was cleared out by the Bowdoin defense, Emmma Eddy found herself open at the right sideline. She sent the ball into the mix, and it went all the way through the box and hit the left post. McCarthy gave chase, but the ball bounced back to Brandeis senior Sapir Edalati, who finished into an empty net. Bowdoin had one more attempt off the kick-off after Edalati's goal, but Grossman denied Abby Hammerl.

Bowdoin will look to get back in the win column as they travel to the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday 4:00 p.m.