The Brandeis men’s soccer team started off their season with a split on the road, playing both Endicott and Gordon Colleges in the annual North Shore Invitational. The Judges were nationally ranked at #4 in the preseason polls, rightfully earning this honor as they returned to the field after two back-to-back Final Four and six straight Sweet Sixteen appearances in the Division III NCAA national tournament. With the goal of keeping this successful streak alive, the team took the field this weekend, managing to kick off the 2018-19 season with a 1-1 record.
In the season opener, the Judges faced the Endicott Gulls in a match that was slow to start. After a scoreless first half, the latter end of the game heated up quickly for the Judges. In the 63rd minute, Andrew Allen ’19, a forward, headed in the 11th goal of his career off assists from teammates Jake Warren ’20 and Michael Burch ’22.
Not long after that, transfer Bryant Nardizzi ’20, fitting in well after his move from Division I University of North Carolina at Wilmington, netted another goal, making the final score of the game 2-0 on Endicott. Following the match, the Judges improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Gulls dropped to 0-1.
After the sweeping win against Endicott, the top-ranked Brandeis men’s soccer team fell strikingly to an unranked Gordon College in a 2-3 loss. Gordon began with a hot start, quickly scoring the first goal of the game in the 8th minute, right off of a deflected pass from the keeper.
However, the Judges answered back, as Allen scored the Judges’ first goal of the game, this time from a penalty kick in the 25th minute. This was Allen’s second goal of the season in just two games.
The tie was not held for long, with another goal coming from the Fighting Scots after a 30 yard strike. Barely a minute later, Gordon tallied their final goal of the game in a penalty kick fashion, making the score 3-1 by the 29th minute. To end the first half scoring streak, Brandeis responded with a goal from Warren, as he headed one in to cut down the opponents’ lead to 3-2 going into halftime.
In an attempt to regain a lead, the Judges controlled the second half, shooting on goal 15 times, while limiting the Fighting Scots to only 3 attempts. However, none of these shots managed to connect, as Gordon sealed their upset win with a scoreless second half from both teams.
Despite the loss, the Judges look ahead their next game against Babson on Saturday, Sept. 8.
