SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's soccer team will have a chance to win the third ECAC Division III in program history tomorrow, as the fourth-seeded Judges upset top-seeded Bridgewater State University, 3-0, at Western New England College today. The Judges improve to 11-7-1 and will face host and second-seeded Western New England College tomorrow at noon in the championship match. The Bears close out their season at 13-6.
After nearly 40 scoreless minutes, the Judges broke through just before halftime. At the 39:39 mark, sophomore forward Evan Ersing (Beverly, Mass./St. Johns Prep) found senior back Matt Hohmann (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) at the edge of the box. Hohmann ripped a shot into the top left corner of the goal. It was the first career goal and points for Hohmann, who was playing in his 62nd career game.
Brandeis doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, when rookie Kyle Feather (Pinebrook, N.J./Montville Township) cleaned up a rebound in front of the net for his third goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Joe Eisenbies (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) added an extra insurance goal in the 84th minute on an assist from rookie midfielder Nick George (Bangor, Maine/Bangor).
For the game, Brandeis outshot Bridgewater State, 17-8, though the Bears owned a 5-1 edge in corner kicks. Brandeis senior Taylor Bracken (No. Andover, Mass./St. Johns Prep) had four saves to record his fifth shutout of the season and the team's ninth, while BSU's D.J. Siewierski had six stops, all coming in the second half.
Brandeis will attempt to win its third ECAC crown tomorrow to go along with titles from 2006 and 1994. The Judges also reached the finals in 1995 and 1996.