In a final effort to tie the score against Clark University last Saturday, forward Ben Premo '09 received a lead pass from one of his midfielders with less than 10 seconds remaining in the game. Yet as time expired and Premo stood just outside the 18-yard box, he was called for a foul, the game's 49th infraction. The undefeated Cougars held on to win 2-1 and hand Brandeis its first loss of the season. The Judges' record fell to 2-1 after recording two consecutive shutouts to open the season, including a win against the Wentworth Institute of Technology last Thursday.

Coach Mike Coven knew that Clark would be the team's first true test of the season.

"We beat two teams that were athletic and ran well, but they weren't really good soccer teams," Coven said. "[Clark] was a good soccer team, and we couldn't handle it.

"They wanted the game more and were passionate, and there was enthusiasm there that we didn't have. It's very, very disappointing."

Brandeis started off strong against Clark, scoring just over 14 minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead.

Defender Matt Hohmann '11 led Premo up the middle with a lob pass into the box, but Premo was pulled down from behind, resulting in a penalty kick for the Judges. Forward Patrick Metelus '10 converted the kick for his third goal of the season.

Clark cashed in on a penalty kick of its own just six minutes later, when sophomore Baran Doenmez sent the ball towards the bottom right of the net past diving goalkeeper Taylor Bracken '10.

In the 72nd minute, the Cougars broke the 1-1 tie when senior forward Jenner Alpern sent a ball behind the Brandeis defense to rookie midfielder Adrian Blackadar, who dribbled in on net and fired a shot past goalkeeper Sean O'Hare '12, who had taken over for Bracken at the start of the second half.

"Both our [goalies] played well," Coven said. "On the second goal one of our midfielders got beat, and [Blackadar] got in there and took a good shot. Nobody's going to save that shot; it wasn't the goalkeeper's fault."

With just under 10 seconds remaining, Premo committed the Judges' 19th foul of the half in a game that saw 49 total fouls and four yellow cards. The physical play and battles among players made for a busy day for head official Gus St. Silva.

"This was as intense as a Division III matchup could be," Silva said. "It's a rivalry game that dates back 30 years. As the temperature of the game goes up, the referee has to step up and caution here and caution there, and in the end we have a good game."

Coven did not complain about the officiating but noted that his team did not react well to the calls made on the field.

"We didn't show a lot of character today," he said. "Whether the officiating is good or bad, we win or lose with class and dignity, and some of our players didn't do that today."

Captain and midfielder Kevin Murphy '09 said Saturday's loss may end up being a blessing in disguise.

"This could be the best thing for us," he said. "A loss sometimes puts your head on straight, and this brings us back down to earth after starting 2-0. Hopefully we can climb our way up to being a winning team again and not lose another one."

The Judges started out the week with a 2-0 win over Wentworth last Thursday. Metelus and defender Kyle Gross '11 scored just over five minutes apart from each other in the first half to give the Judges a two-goal lead they would never relinquish.

O'Hare, who once again split time with Bracken in goal, was forced to make the only save of the game for Brandeis on a shot by sophomore midfielder Austin Ludwig that O'Hare stopped by leaping and diving to his right.

"I was a little jealous he made the only save of the game," Bracken said jokingly after the victory. "But I don't mind being bored because that means our team is doing well."

The Judges finish off the home stand with two games this week, including one tomorrow against Babson College at 7:30 p.m and another Monday against Colby-Sawyer College at 7 p.m.