2-0 is an unlucky score for the Judges. After beginning the year with a 4-0 record, Brandeis has lost two games this week, both by the score of 2-0. Brandeis currently has a 4-2 record.
On Wednesday, Brandeis was shut out against regional rival Wheaton College. Dan Lane 09 scored a pair of second-half goals as the Lyons defeated the Judges. Wheaton had many scoring chances early on, but Brandeis goalie Pat Makridakis 06 was up for the challenge. Mathurin Coulibaly 09 took three shots from point blank range, while Lane fired a shot wide left off a giveaway.
In the 22nd minute, Evan Duval 08 slid a shot past Wheaton goalkeeper Matt Pachniuk 07, but Jim Ferriero 08 made a stop at the goal line. The game went into the intermission tied, 0-0.
For the fifth time in six games, Lane was influential in the Lyons first goal. At 64:47, he kicked home a free kick from 20 yards out. Less than 10 minutes later, he completed his first multi-goal by scoring from inside the box past a diving Makridakis 06 into the right portion of the net.
Even though Wheaton scored both of its goals in the second half, star Brandeis forward Ben Premo 09 believes that Brandeis controlled much of the second half action. It was mental mistakes that caused the two goals. We dominated the second half [of play]. We had a lot of opportunities but we didnt finish [them off], Premo said.
Earlier in the week, the 20th ranked Babson Beavers gave the Judges their first loss by a score of, 2-0. Babson College scored one goal in each half to get the win.
Babson quickly took the lead as co-captain Jay DeRienzo 06 passed the ball to Gregg Robinson 08, who kicked a ball just inside the upper left corner, only 77 seconds into the game.
In the second half, Brandeis put the pressure on Babson, but Babson goalie Chris Necklas 08 was strong in goal, making three of his four saves in the second half to claim his fourth shutout of the season. Necklass biggest save came with less than 12 minutes remaining, as he leaped to save the shot of Charles Goodhues 06 from outside the right post. The Beavers secured the win with an insurance goal in the last minute, as DeRienzo scored on a breakaway opportunity and netted his first goal of the season.
Brandeiss next game is against Colby-Sawyer University in New Hampshire on Monday at 4 p.m.
Coach Mike Coven still has faith in his club. He thinks that Brandeis will bounce back from consecutive defeats and win a fair share of games this year.
Even after two tough loses, Premo 09 still believes Brandeis is a contender. We should be 8-2 by the time we play [University of] Rochester. Division play begins October with a game against Rochester. It will probably be the toughest game of the year, Premo predicted.
