Coming across scoring opportunities hasn't been a problem for the men's soccer team lately. Finding the back of the net, however, certainly has been. With a 0-0 double-overtime draw Saturday against Clark University, the Judges ended a grueling stretch of three games in five days that was characterized by a slew of missed opportunities on offense.The team failed to score Saturday despite outshooting Clark 19-11, and its game against the Wentworth Institute of Technology Thursday was no different, as the Judges fell 1-0 despite a 22-9 shot advantage. The Judges also turned in a 1-1 draw last Tuesday against Babson College, and now stand at 1-1-2 on the season after the weeklong scoring drought.

After the Clark game, coach Mike Coven urgently stressed the need for the team to start cashing in on its opportunities.

"Coming out of here with a tie against this good team is fine, but we should have won and we won't win until we start scoring," Coven said.

Brandeis dominated Clark offensively after a rough start, but the Judges still could not find the net by the end of the day.

The Judges started off flat-footed, with the majority of the action taking place in their defensive zone.

The team could not maintain possession, as Clark senior forward David Blum had three shots on goal in the first 12 minutes alone.

"The first 15, 20 minutes, I thought we were horrible," Coven said.

Clark appeared to score in the 12th minute when rookie goalkeeper Taylor Bracken '10 blocked a shot that bounced to another player right in front of the goal, who knocked the point blank look into the back of the net. However, the Cougars' celebration ended when the player was ruled offside, nullifying the goal.

The Judges soon regained their composure, allowing just one more shot the rest of the half and controlling the midfield. Their passing and ball movement was particularly in synch as everyone got involved in the offense.

"There were some nice combination plays between all ten players," Coven said. "We were pushing the ball around, penetrating, making some nice runs and passes."

Leading scorer Ben Premo '09 had five shots in the game, but, uncharacteristically, could not find the back of the net.

"I'm definitely not playing up to my potential," he said. "I'm not making the best runs. I played kind of lackadaisical."

Perhaps the best chance for Brandeis to put away Clark came in the second overtime period. In the 105th minute, Evan Duval '07 rocketed a point-blank shot that Clark senior goalkeeper Matt Talbot blocked right back to Duval, but his ensuing shot was also blocked.

Two minutes later, Mike Snyder '06 received a cross in the box and headed it towards the top of the goal, and knocked it right over the crossbar.

"We didn't have second opportunities today," Coven said. "We need more numbers in the box."

Another factor in the team's goal drought this week was the absence of captain Yuval Ezer '07, who was injured during the Babson game last Tuesday after suffering an ankle sprain in a collision with Babson junior goalie Matt Talbot.

The star midfielder, who missed all of last season due to injury but scored a key goal in the Judges' season-opening win this year, was sorely missed on the field Saturday.

"[Ezer] scores goals, creates goals, defends, he does it all," Coven said. "When you lose him the whole chemistry of the team is shaken up."

Ezer was particularly disappointed about the injury.

"I anticipated playing for Brandeis again, and then I get injured after two just games. It's just upsetting," he said.

While the Judges scoring punch was lacking this week, their goaltending certainly didn't disappoint. Bracken hasn't shown any rookie nerves in net, as despite receiving taunts from raucous fans from during Saturday's game against Clark, he remained unfazed and recorded six saves to preserve the Judges' draw.

"I try to drown it out, calm myself and stay focused," Bracken said.

In the games against Babson and Wentworth, Bracken also demonstrated poise beyond his years, giving up one goal in each game and earning praise from Coven.

"It's a huge difference between high school and [college], and Taylor's been magnificent," Coven said. "Every single game he's played big. I've got a lot of confidence in him."

The Judges play Wednesday at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 7 p.m.