Brandeis began the weekend with a tie, but finished it with a loss against two tough UAA opponents.
The University of Chicago Maroons took the lead early to beat Brandeis 3-1. The win left the Maroons 12-5 and 4-2 in the UAA. The loss dropped the Judges to 6-8-2 and 0-4-2 in conference play.
Chicago, No. 25 in a recent NSCAA poll, scored at 1:58 when senior forward Brian Standerfer placed a corner kick into the box that midfielder Eric Kirkenmeier headed past the goalkeeper.
The Maroons continued the scoring in the sixth minute when forward Ryan Ehle scored from 25 yards out. Midfielder Jim Logan assisted on the goal. This put Brandeis down 2-0 early in the first half. We dug ourselves a huge hole and then we started playing better, Coach Mike Coven said.
Despite being out shot 11-2 in the first half, Brandeis cut the lead in half with less than five minutes left in the first half. Defenseman Kayne Ryan 09 tallied his first collegiate goal off a long throw-in.
The Judges came out fired up in the second half and approximately 15 minutes in, Ben Premo 09 had a golden opportunity to tie the game. Midfielder Yoni Litwok 07 sent a pass that set Premo up for a breakaway, but the ball took an awkward bounce and Premo was unable to get the shot off.
Chicago added to its lead in the 82nd minute when midfielder Stuart Phelps scored his second goal of the season on a feed from Ehle.
Brandeis had two great opportunities to tie the game and to put them ahead, but they were unable to capitalize. We played 70 minutes of very, very good soccer and dominated play, but we played 20 minutes of horrible soccerIt was a game we should have won, Coven said.
This season has frustrated the team because of the tough breaks it has been getting.
We havent played a complete soccer game yetThe balls not bouncing our way this yearIts been a very long, difficult season. Obviously Im disappointedand Im sure the players are disappointed, Coven said.
Brandeis concludes the season tomorrow, with a home game against UAA opponent New York University.
Coven is very confident against NYU.
Were gonna win, he said bluntly.
