In its second game at the Adidas Kick-Off Classic at Wheaton College last Sunday, the men's soccer team was unable to handle junior Nick Johnson and the rest of the University of Southern Maine Huskies, losing 2-0 to conclude the tournament that also featured the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers-Newark University and the Lyons of Wheaton College.The Judges' loss came after the team battled Rutgers-Newark to a 1-1 draw last Saturday, putting the team's record at 0-1-1 to start the season.

The game against Southern Maine was scoreless until the second half, when Johnson put one past Brandeis goalie Matt Lynch '11 in the 59th minute from the top of the box after maneuvering past a pair of defenders. Coach Michael Coven, who has entered his 37th season as the men's soccer coach, called the shot "a perfectly hit ball." Lynch went on to say that Johnson "tucked it away nicely into the left corner."

Two minutes later, Johnson's second goal floated into the back of the net from about 30 yards away, giving the Huskies all they would need to defeat the Judges and wrap up their first win of the season.

"It was kind of a tough ball that got over and found its way into the [goal]," Lynch said.

Coven was unhappy with the way the goals were scored.

"Both goals were blatant mistakes on our part that never should have been made," he said.

The Judges desperately attempted to add more offense after Johnson's two goals by putting in an extra attacker with the two forwards already on the field.

Despite outshooting the Huskies 20-15 in the game, the Judges failed to net a goal against Southern Maine senior goalie Steven May.

"We had plenty of opportunities to score, and we just made mistakes," Coven said. "We lost composure in front of the goal we were attacking."

Midfielder Luke Teece '12 was the Judges' primary offensive weapon against Southern Maine. With 4 minutes, 30 seconds left in the game, Teece struck a ball that hit the left post. Teece later had another chance to put the ball in the net, but May was able to stop his shot and preserve the shutout.

Last Saturday, the Judges tied Rutgers-Newark 1-1 in the team's season opener. In his collegiate debut, forward Lee Russo '13 had a corner kick 3:40 into the game that deflected off an opposing player's head into the net, giving the Brandeis an early 1-0 lead.

The Judges were ahead until the 67th minute, when junior Estiven Benitez got one past Lynch to even up the score. Lynch played well in the team's opener, saving three Scarlet Raider shots and three corner kicks that came his way.

The Judges' best chance to take the lead came from Teece in the 75th minute, when junior goalie Matt Zielyk made a sprawling save on Teece's shot to preserve the tie.

Neither team scored in the two overtime periods, but the Judges came close, recording four shots on goal against the Scarlet Raiders' one.

Though the teams tied, the Judges suffered a small loss in the second overtime. Midfielder Corey Bradley '10 drew a red card after committing a foul on a Scarlet Raider player, forcing him to sit out the team's next game against Southern Maine.

Although his team didn't earn a victory at the Classic, Coven was very impressed with the debuts of his rookies, including Russo and midfielders Eric Root '13 and Matt Hauser '13.

"I think our [rookies] are very good," Coven said. "They have stepped up and performed very well for us."

The Judges will next play at Clark University Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Brandeis fell at home to Clark 2-1 in a heated game between the two teams last season.