For the second straight season, the men's soccer team hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Gordon Field.

And, for the second straight season, the Judges advanced to the Round of 16 with back-to-back victories.

After dominating Johnson & Wales University on Saturday by a score of 3-0, Brandeis beat Roger Williams University 1-0 on Sunday night.

While Saturday's victory came rather easily, head coach Michael Coven was happy with the team's performance on Sunday.

"I think we dominated play," he said. "The boys never lost their composure, we controlled the tempo of the game and we possessed the ball well."

Despite dominating early proceedings on Sunday, the Judges knew that the Hawks posed a threat. Given that Roger Williams had benefited from several fortuitous plays in its 3-1 first round victory over Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Newark, the rain provided a seemingly perfect setting for the Hawks to once again take advantage.

The visitors almost went up 1-0 in the 18th minute. A fast, right-wing cross played in from sophomore forward James Sheldon appeared to have been deflected into the net by Judges' goalkeeper Joe Graffy '15. While some Roger Williams fans began to celebrate an apparent goal, the cheering was cut short as the ball had in fact dropped behind the goal for a corner kick and was then cleared.

The chance was a warning for the Judges, who were wary of the threat that Roger Williams senior forward Trevor Hoxsie-who scored 14 goals this season-posed.

"We knew he was good," said center back Matt Brondoli '14, who, along with fellow center-back Conor Lanahan '16, limited the striker to just one shot. "The coaches warned us about him, but I think for the most part we just focused on our game."

Yet, despite seizing the initiative, it would be the last threat that the Hawks would mount.

Instead, it was Brandeis who struck in the 25th minute.

Midfielder Sam Ocel '13 played a ball to the left wing, where left-back Ben Applefield '14 was waiting. Applefield sent in a curling left-footed cross toward the center and forward Tyler Savonen '15 sent a powerful header into the bottom left corner for a goal that sparked fervent celebrations.

"Applefield played a great ball," said Savonen, who scored his 12th goal of the season. "The play leading up to it was really nice. I was in the right place at the right time."

With 43 seconds left in the half, midfielder Tudor Livadaru '14 sent a rocket of a shot from the left flank just wide. Despite the effort, the Judges held on to a 1-0 lead at the half.

Instead of trying to maintain its one-goal advantage, the Judges pressed forward for a second goal.

Applefield, in fact, almost provided a second assist in the 56th minute, as forward Michael Soboff '15 rammed a point-blank shot at Pelloso from the left back's cross.

The Judges were dominating the game, possessing the ball well and creating chances. Yet, as the score remained at 1-0, the potential for Roger Williams to take advantage of a defensive miscue increased.

With less than five minutes left, Sheldon looked to break the deadlock with a marauding run down the left wing. However, just as he prepared to shoot, Lanahan made a brilliant defensive play, knocking the ball off of Sheldon for a goal kick.
From there, the Judges ran out the clock to secure a monumentous 1-0 victory over the Hawks.

The Judges wasted little time getting on the board, meanwhile, on Saturday against Johnson & Wales. Much like last year, the hosts established their supremacy early on.

After just one minute, 51 seconds, Savonen cut in from the right flank and crossed the ball to Michael Soboff '15, who put the ball home to give the Judges the early lead.

At the 4:54 mark, Soboff then became the provider, sending in a low cross from the left flank which Savonen put into the net for a 2-0 advantage over Johnson & Wales.

The Judges' strong play in the center of the park was evident.
"I think our communication and the way we work together has been great," said Livadaru.

Early in the second half, the Judges quickly extinguished any hopes of a Johnson & Wales comeback.

In the 49th minute, forward Evan Jastremski '17 scored for the second straight game to make it 3-0, a lead that remained the rest of the way.

For the second straight year, Brandeis will face Williams College in the Round of 16 in Saturday's matchup at a time to be determined. The Ephs defeated the Judges 1-0 in last season's game.

However, given the strength of the team's performance this season, Brandeis believes it has a great chance to win.
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