Under the helm of Mike Coven, the veteran head coach entering his 36th year, Brandeis’s men’s soccer team is ready to begin their season and looking for redemption after a disappointing 2007. After winning the 2006 ECAC Division III New England Championship, the Judges fell to 8-9-3 last season and failed to register even one conference victory, finishing at the bottom of the University Athletic Association. The team has a lot to look forward to however; a new field and some young talent should combine with some established stars to make the 2008 season exciting for all Brandeis soccer fans.
Senior co-captain Ben Premo ‘09 is the primary force behind the Judges’ attack. A former All-UAA selection, Premo’ career statistics of 28 goals and 19 assists give him 75 points, placing him tenth on Brandeis’s all-time scoring list. Premo’s 9 points last year in the face of constant double-teaming represented a slight drop-off from the torrid pace of his first two seasons, but a strong rebound could move him as high as fourth on Brandeis’s career chart. Premo will be complemented by classmate and fellow forward Alex Mithoefer ‘09, whose excellent .238 shooting percentage made him last year’s most prolific goal scorer despite only 9 starts.
Co-captain Adam Guttman ‘09 is the senior leader of the Brandeis midfield, a strong unit that includes Corey Bradley ‘10, the leading midfield scorer in 2007, and the more defensive-minded Alex Zenerovitz ‘10. Bradley and Zenerovitz each started 18 games last year, tied for the lead among returning field players.
The defense is suffering from the loss of two All-UAA selections and will feature some fresh faces in 2008. Nick Howard ‘11 earned 10 starts as a freshman in 2007 and will play a big role in anchoring the unit. Experienced leadership will come from co-captain Kevin Murphy ‘09, a combination midfielder and defender.
Taylor Bracken ‘10 returns to tend the net after a mammoth sophomore year in which he started 18 games, registered 5 shutouts, and led the UAA with 86 saves, earning an all-UAA honorable mention.
The Judges will not have to battle high expectations this year, as the preseason UAA poll pegged Brandeis to finish last in the eight team conference. The UAA schedule promises to be difficult, as four teams earned a spot in the NSCAA/Adidas Division III Rankings, including last year’s UAA champion Washington University and this season’s UAA #1 Emory University.
Brandeis’s 19-game schedule begins on Saturday, August 30th, at home against Endicott College. The game is at 1:00 PM at the newly renovated Gordon Field, which features a brand new scoreboard and A-Turf playing surface. Conference play commences on October 4th on the road against the University of Rochester.
