Yuval Ezer '07 is the kind of player who makes an immediate impact on a soccer field. After arriving at Brandeis as a heralded transfer student from the University of Connecticut in the fall of 2004, the Israeli midfielder made his presence felt right away for the men's soccer team, scoring three goals and two assists during an early-season three-game winning streak for the Judges that season. He was eventually slated as a captain for the 2005 season. But instead of leading the Judges to glory, Ezer watched last season from the sidelines with a serious injury as the men's soccer team struggled to a 6-9-2 campaign.

He finally hit the field again Saturday, and immediately gave the Judges a kick-start for the 2006 season, scoring the first goal of a 3-0 win at Endicott College. It didn't take Ezer long to find the net, with a diving header in the 24th minute. Forward Ben Premo '09, the team's leading scorer last year, added two goals in the victory.

With his experience as a former Division I player for UConn, Ezer brings both on-field skills and leadership qualities that most Division III players lack.

"[Ezer] is like a second coach out there," coach Mike Coven said. "We're a much better team with him on the field. He does things that most Division III players can't do."

After forming a dynamic scoring tandem with Shelton Stewart '06 in the Judges' midfield during the 2004 season, Ezer's return gives Brandeis a valuable playmaking threat for 2006.

"[Ezer] is a playmaker," said forward Jordan Skolnick '07, who registered the assist for Ezer's goal. "He makes things happen. He's a difference maker and a threat anywhere on the field."

The Judges were held scoreless for the remainder of the first half, but Premo took over the game after the break. He scored his first goal less than half a minute into the second half when rookie midfielder Billy Murphy '10 chipped the ball over the Endicott defense. Premo took the ball and slid it past the goalie from five yards out. He went on to ice the game for Brandeis by scoring again in the 64th minute from the left corner of the box, touching the ball past a defender and then rocketing it into the back of the net.

Although the Judges took an early lead Saturday, Ezer said the team showed some signs of rust, particularly in their passing and decision-making.

"In the beginning of the game we should have held the ball more, played more

composed, distributed it to the flanks," he said.

Premo suggested that early-game nerves and the presence of four first year starters on the Judges caused the first-half rust.

"We had some jitters in the first half, we started some [first-years] and they were nervous, and I was also nervous," Premo said.

However, Coven made the necessary second-half adjustments, including the substitution of Murphy into the game, to improve the flow of the midfield and allow the Judges to take over.

"In the second half we controlled the midfield a lot better, and that helped out defensively," Skolnick said.

Coven said he was extremely pleased with the play of his rookies Saturday, particularly Murphy and goalkeeper Taylor Bracken '10. Bracken looked more like a seasoned veteran than a newcomer in net, making several impressive saves to earn a shutout in his debut.

"Our goalkeeper made some terrific saves," Coven said. "For a freshman playing his first college game, he was very composed."

Murphy's play also impressed Coven, and the coach raved about the midfielder's potential.

"He's a horse out there," Coven said. "When he gets the ball he knows what to do with it. He was dominating play on the air and ground and his physical presence turned the tide out there."

The 3-0 victory propels the Judges to a start that is all too reminiscent of last year, when the team began the season 4-0 before going winless in the final nine games.

However, Coven cites the superior depth of this year's squad as a reason to expect significant improvement.

"I think we played better [Saturday] than we did all season last year," he said. "We used 16 players last night and didn't lose a beat. Having the depth is a huge difference this year."

Ezer, especially after his momentous return to open the season, is particularly optimistic.

"It's the first game, but I think it's getting there," he said. "It's a positive [start]. Everyone's very excited and passionate about the season.