With the score tied at one in the 87th minute, the men's soccer team appeared to be headed for overtime against Babson College last Wednesday. But that was before forward Ben Premo '09 received a long pass from midfielder Alex Zenerovitz '10 and took care of the rest. Premo boxed out his defender to gain possession, dribbled to the goal line just right of the net and put the slightest touch on the ball, lobbing it over the extended arms of Babson rookie keeper Peter Crowley into the opposite corner of the net to give the Judges a 2-1 lead in an eventual 3-1 victory.

"To be honest, I was hoping it'd just hit off the keeper and go in, but it worked out perfectly," Premo said. "I knew I had the option of putting a little topspin on it and putting it in, but I didn't know if my angle was good enough, so I just swung and tried to put it in the side corner, and it did."

Forward Alex Farr '12 added an insurance goal just over two minutes later for the final margin, as Brandeis improved its season record to 3-1. The Judges also hosted Colby-Sawyer College last night, but the match ended too late for this edition.

After a scoreless first half, Babson broke through in the 47th minute when its all-time leading scorer, senior forward Tim Winn, scored his fifth goal of the season by maneuvering past multiple defenders into the goal box for a point-blank shot that got past goalie Sean O'Hare's '12 dive.

The Judges answered in the 56th minute when midfielder Corey Bradley '10 drew a foul in the box that resulted in a penalty kick. Midfielder Patrick Metelus '10 took the shot, converting his fourth goal of the season.

Premo's and Farr's goals put the Judges ahead for good, turning around what coach Michael Coven felt was a disappointing loss against Clark University Sept. 6.

"After the Clark game, [Coven] challenged us and reminded us that Brandeis soccer is about pride, passion and heart," Premo said. "At halftime I told the team that we needed to show Coach that we can play with pride and passion and show him what we're made of. In the second half we got down a goal, but no one panicked like last game."

Coven also commended the Judges' effort, saying it was one of the best games he has seen his team play in years.

"We finally got it today. This is what [assistant coach Gabe Margolis] and I have been trying to do since preseason, and they really did it today," Coven said. "It was the best soccer that we've played in the last four or five years."

O'Hare, who played the entire game in goal for the Judges, collected three saves in his first full collegiate game. In the first three games of the season, O'Hare split time with last year's first-string goalkeeper, Taylor Bracken '10, but was given the starting job last Wednesday in light of his performance in practice during the week.

"Right now, Sean O'Hare is our starting goalkeeper, but anything could change," Coven said. "We have three good goalkeepers. I spoke to [Bracken], who was supportive and great about it, and Matt Lynch '11 is breathing down both their necks, so we'll take it one game at a time like we always have."

Midway through the second half, O'Hare saved a hard shot from junior midfielder Dan Fogarty to preserve a 1-1 tie. Fogarty had a clear path to the net after getting past the Judges' defense, but O'Hare positioned himself in front of the shot to deflect it off of his chest and away from the net.

"This was the first time I've been put under pressure in a college atmosphere," O'Hare said. "It's different and more intense, but it feels good. I was a little jittery at times and don't feel I played to my potential today, but I'm glad to get the win."

Brandeis next competes at Worcester Polytechnic Institute tomorrow at 7 p.m. and then at Newbury College Monday at 3:30 p.m.