After a humbling 4-0 loss at No. 12 Emory University Friday night, coach Mike Coven, in an attempt to create more offense, shuffled the men's soccer team's starting lineup prior to Sunday's contest at Carnegie Mellon University. The new lineup still didn't score a goal, though it did help snap the team's University Athletic Association losing streak. The Judges' 0-0 tie against Carnegie Mellon salvaged a potentially devastating weekend and was the first game Brandeis didn't lose in UAA play this season. With one game left in the season, the Judges are 8-8-3 overall and 0-5-1 in conference play following Tuesday's 1-0 victory at Lasell College, which gave Coven his 400th career victory (see story, left).

Despite the tie, Coven wasn't pleased that the Judges once again failed to score against a UAA team. Brandeis extended its scoring drought against conference opponents to 526 minutes, or roughly 5 1/2 games.

"It was a very disappointing weekend," Coven said. "We had two full games of soccer with two overtime [periods], and we didn't score a goal."

A lack of offensive production has plagued the Judges all season, as the team has scored more than two goals in a game just four times this season. After the loss to Emory, Coven shook up the starting backline, moving Brett Fitzgerald '08 to the center midfield position. David Weinstein '08, usually the right back, moved to Fitzgerald's sweeper position while rookie Matt Hohmann '11 made his first start of the season in Weinstein's regular spot. Only left back Joe Levitan '08 remained in the same position.

The switch didn't result in any goals, but the offense was able to attempt 11 shots Sunday after only attempting four against Emory Friday. The switch also didn't hurt the team defensively, as the Judges stopped every Carnegie scoring opportunity.

Goalie Taylor Bracken '10 had four saves, including two as regulation was winding down in the 88th and 89th minutes, respectively, en route to recording his fifth shutout of the season.

"It was a hard-fought game," midfielder Evan Duval '08 said. "We're happy with the result, but we should have won. We had the opportunity to win, but couldn't put it away."

Fitzgerald was impressed with the Judges' resiliency, as they played without injured starters Ben Premo '09 and Alex Ball '08. In their places, rookies Mark Minevich '11, Kyle Gross '11 and Stephen Kostel '11 all saw their roles increase.

"We have a lot of injuries, so it's big that [the rookies] stepped up and performed at a high level," Fitzgerald said.

While the Judges stayed competitive throughout Sunday's game, they never found their rhythm in Friday night's loss to Emory. The Eagles dominated from the start, scoring two quick goals in the 17th and 19th minutes, respectively, before adding two goals late in the second half to hand Brandeis a 4-0 defeat.

"We were outplayed for 90 minutes," Coven said. "For the first 15 minutes of the game the ball went back and forth, and we were psychologically in it. [But] we gave up a horrendously cheap goal and became deflated."

The Judges defeated Lasell College 1-0 last Tuesday at home, giving coach Coven his 400th career victory. Midfielder Alex Mithoefer '09 scored the lone goal in the 66th minute to secure the historic win for Brandeis.

As the final seconds ticked away, Levitan and Kevin Murphy '09 doused Coven's head in Gatordade, as is the custom when a coach reaches a milestone. Coven became only the 10th coach in Division III history to win 400 career games.

Though the team's hopes of defending last season's Eastern College Athletic Conference crown are slim, Duval said he thinks Sunday's tie can provide the Judges with positive momentum heading into the last game of the season.

"It'll be a little more positive on the plane ride home," he said. "Practice all week will be a little more positive."

The Judges play their final game of the season, a UAA home contest against New York University Saturday at 11 a.m.