WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's soccer team closed out their regular-season home slate this afternoon with a fine performance, defeating visiting Springfield College, 3-1. The Judges improve to 8-4-1 on the campaign, while the Pride fall to 9-7-1.
Brandeis opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Senior captain Kyle Gross (Medway, Mass./Medway) sent a beautiful through ball from near midfield. Junior speedster Luke Teece (Tucson, Ariz./University) was on the other end, racing to the ball and beating Springfield sophomore Chris Walton (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell). The goal was Teece's team-leading ninth of the season, tops in the University Athletic Association, while the assist was Gross's first.
The Judges added the game-winning goal on a similar play in the 32nd minute. Junior forward Alexander Farr (Nahant, Mass./St. Johns Prep), who had checked into the game just 16 seconds earlier, was on the right end of a through-ball by classmate Theo Terris (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle). Farr dribbled in and beat Walton for his sixth goal of the season. Teece nearly added a second goal three minutes before the half, but Springfield junior Scott Donofrio (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) made a nice play tracking back to clear the ball off the line. Brandeis took the 2-0 lead into the intermission, outshooting the Pride, 10-3.
Brandeis added an insurance goal in the 56th minute. Gross served a nice ball into the box. Sophomore Joe Eisenbies (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) and a Springfield defender got to the ball at the same time, with the visitor getting a head on the ball to try to send it back to the keeper. Eisenbies intercepted the back-pass and knocked it in to earn his fifth goal of the season.
Springfield ruined the Judges' shutout bid in the 89th minute. Rookie midfielder Scott Morneau's (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) corner from the left went into the box and was deflected back to him. On Morneau's second cross, the ball found sophomore Jake Miskin (Needham, Mass./Needham) on the right side, and Miskin clanged it back off the far post and in for his first goal of the campaign.
Brandeis senior goalkeeper Taylor Bracken (No. Andover, Mass./St. Johns Prep) made four saves in just over 80 minutes for the victory, while Walton made five stops for the Pride. The Judges finished with an 18-9 edge in shots and 6-1 margin in corner kicks.
Brandeis is off until next Monday afternoon for their final non-conference game at Lasell College at 3:30 p.m. Springfield hosts WPI in a key NEWMAC contest Saturday at 3 p.m.