The men’s soccer team went 1-1 on the road last week, falling to Babson College 1-0 on Saturday in double overtime and defeating Nichols College 4-2 on Wednesday. 

Judges 0, Babson 1

On Saturday, the No.-9 ranked Judges found themselves in an intense scoreless battle with Babson. The team had 15 shots on the game and five on goal, none of which were able to find the back of the net. The opportunities were there for the squad as they also attempted eight corner kicks. The best chance came for the visitors in the 62nd minute when forward Andrew Allen ’19 was blocked on a breakaway. 

Both teams were unable to score in regulation in a contest that was determined by stringent defense and a cautious offensive attack. The game remained in deadlock until about two minutes left in the second overtime. Babson freshman forward Chris Czarnecki sent a cross to sophomore midfielder Noah Parker, who took a shot that ricocheted off the arm of a Judges’ defender. Babson was awarded a penalty kick, which Parker sent past the keeper to give Babson the win. 

The defeat for Brandeis was rare in their long history with their regional rivals. The contest marked the 64th time the two sides have squared off since 1955. The games have always been close; five of the past seven games have incredibly extended to double overtime. It was also the first time the Judges have fallen to a team from New England in the regular season in three years. 

Judges 4, Nichols 2

On Wednesday, the squad exploded for four goals to dismantle the opposition from Nichols. Midfielder Josh Ocel ’17 continued his strong start to the season by adding another goal and assist to his impressive statistics. Ocel got his goal in the 33rd minute when he took the penalty kick for his third score of the season. 

Ocel would also record an assist in the second half, his second of the season, when the Judges were presented with a corner kick in the 74th minute. Allen took the cross from Ocel and put it away with a nicely timed header and also got involved in the game with an assist in the 44th minute. Allen slotted the ball over to forward Michael Chaput ’17 who converted on the volley from about 15 yards out.  

The Judges were not done, however, and extended their lead to three in the 83rd minute of the contest. Allen, again, was involved in the action when he took a shot that was saved by Nichols freshman goalkeeper Carlos De La Cruz. Forward Max Breiter ’20 took the rebound and placed it into the open goal. 

Nichols would not be denied on the offensive end either, scoring two goals of their own late in the second half. The home team scored on a free kick in the 74th minute and a penalty shot during the 84th.  

The Judges were able to clinch a victory on the strength of goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse’s ’18 six saves. They were able to secure a 4-2 victory even though they were outshot by the home team 14-11. 

The team will continue their season on the road tomorrow night with a tough regional competitor in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The contest will be a tune up for Saturday night when the Judges will go up against their long time rivals, the Tufts University Jumbos. Last season, the club snuck away with a difficult 1-0 victory on the road against Tufts. 

The Judges also had a tough time against WPI, forcing double overtime in close win. Midfielder Jake Picard ’16 came through with the late goal to lift the Judges to a win.