In the 84th minute of the 14th-ranked Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team's match against Brandeis University on Saturday afternoon, senior forward Aniya Hartzler sent a free kick into the back of the net to give the Spartans a 2-1 win in the team's University Athletic Association opener at DiSanto Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

With the win, CWRU improved to 9-0-0 overall on the season and 1-0-0 in the UAA. Brandeis fell to 6-3-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference. The Spartans remain one of five undefeated and untied teams in Division III.

With the score tied at 1, Case Western Reserve earned a late free kick outside the box about 25 yards away from the goal. Hartzler curled a shot past the wall of Judges and into the lower left corner of the goal to give the Spartans the lead with six minutes left in the match. It was Hartzler's fourth goal of the season. CWRU prevented Brandeis from attempting a shot for the remainder of the contest, securing the victory to open conference play.

The first half was evenly matched between the two teams with neither squad able to score. The Judges held a 5-3 advantage in shots, though two of the Spartan shots were on target compared to Brandeis' one.

Sophomore forward Carolyn Koutures broke the scoreless tie in the 60th minute with her second goal of the campaign. After earning a corner kick, Hartzler sent a cross into the six-yard box. On the near side of the goal, senior midfielder Merry Meyer received the cross and headed the ball toward the far post. With the goalkeeper drawn toward Meyer, Koutures fired the ball into the back of the net. Both Hartzler and Meyer earned assists on the goal, the fourth of the season for Hartzler and first of the season for Meyer.

The Judges equalized in the 79th minute on the seventh goal of the season from Juliette Carreiro.

Junior goalkeeper Maggie Storti saved a shot in the 82nd minute to keep the tie, her fourth save of the match. She earned her ninth win of the season and the 25th of her career. Koutures, Hartzler, and senior midfielder/forward Helina VanBibber each tallied a team-high two shots.

The Spartans will begin a three-match road trip next week when the team travels to New York University on Saturday, October 8.