Brandeis men’s soccer advanced their season record to 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 9 as they defeated Massachusetts rival Babson College. In head-to-head competition, the Babson Beavers lead the Judges 29-26. However, the Judges have secured a winning advantage in recent years, winning the last five of six meetings between the teams.
In their meeting last year, Brandeis dropped the game to Babson 0-1 during a shaky first few weeks of the 2016 season. Now higher ranked than ever, Brandeis sought to redeem last season’s loss to the rival team.
Much of the first half of play saw back-and-forth advantages from both teams, with a few shot opportunities from both teams. Just as the first half was drawing to a close, the Judges offense found themselves within the 18-yard box.
Just as it began to rain in the 42nd minute, the Judges scored the first goal of the game, contributed by two players relatively new to competition. Junior Colin Panarra ’19 leading the pack expertly guided the ball to teammate Devan Casey ’19 who buried the shot just past the fingertips of the Babson goalie and into the net to secure the first lead of the game. It was Casey’s first career goal.
The second half brought with it harder rainfall, as well as a goal that eluded both teams throughout most of the half. For much of the second half, the Judges dominated play, leading in shot opportunities and corner kicks.
Babson found the net, however, in the 83rd minute. After a Babson corner kick play, their defender Jackson Greenspan ’19 crossed the ball into scoring territory. Babson forward Chris Czarnecki ’20 found the ball, heading it past the Brandeis defense.
Just 46 seconds later, Brandeis found itself with an opportunity to reclaim the lead. After a Babson play was red-carded, Brandeis got a free kick opportunity, which went to Josh Ocel ’18. A little over 18 yards out, Ocel shot the ball past Babson’s defensive wall and hit the net to gain the lead for Brandeis once again. The goal was Ocel’s sixth game-winner in his career, but his first since the 2015 season in his sophomore year.
For the last six minutes of the game, Babson pressured the Brandeis defense, taking three shots and even coming close enough to hit the crossbar in the 89th minute in a climactic ending to a tight game. The visiting team couldn’t quite make it, however, and Brandeis walked away winning and wet with rain.
The Judges will return to the field again for the second game in their four-game homestand against Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
WPI boasts a 3-1 record since their season began a few weeks ago. In the Brandeis-WPI match-up of the 2016 season, Brandeis left the WPI home field with a 0-0 tie after a slow start to what would become a spectacular season. Building off the momentum of the Judges Final Four berth and now continuing with elevated expectations and rankings, the Judges will look to prove their skill and success in a schedule very similar to last season’s.
