BABSON PARK, Mass. (taken from a Babson College press release) – Junior All-American Eric Anderson (Scituate, Mass.) scored a pair of goals – including the game-winner with just under eight minutes left in the second overtime period – to lead the Babson College men's soccer team to a dramatic 2-1 victory over longtime rival Brandeis University in a non-conference contest at Babson's Hartwell-Rogers Field on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Beavers improved to 5-2-1 overall, while the Judges lost for just the second time this fall to drop to 4-2-0.
Following a scoreless first half, Babson nearly jumped in front less than 90 seconds into the second period, but junior goalie Blake Minchoff (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) made a great diving save on a header by sophomore Bryan Rust (Granby, Conn.) just inside the right post. The ball nearly rolled in off the keeper's deflection, but a Brandeis defender cleared the ball off the line just in time to keep the game scoreless.
The Judges netted the game's first goal moments later, as junior Lee Russo (Westford, Mass./Westford Acad.) hit a short corner to senior Theo Terris (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) on the right side. Terris then sent a cross to the far side of the box, where junior Joe Eisenbies (Hingham, Mass./HIngham) blasted it back to the lower right corner for his second goal of the season at 51:40.
Things stayed that way until the 73-minute mark, when a Brandeis foul gave Babson a free kick from near midfield. Senior Salomon Guindi (Mexico City, Mexico) then served it to the top of the box, where Anderson headed it just inside the left post for his third tally of the fall at 73:04.
Both teams had strong chances to win the game in the closing minutes of regulation. Judges' junior Sam Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./No. Attleboro) had a header from close range off a corner kick with 10:22 remaining, but Babson senior keeper Peter Crowley (Lexington, Mass.) made a nice diving save near the left post. Beavers' junior Ayo Iwuagwu (Lagos, Nigeria) then got a head on a corner kick from classmate Jimmy Stento (Needham, Mass.) with seven minutes to go, but his bid sailed just over the cross bar.
Brandeis had another opportunity two minutes into the first overtime, but Eisenbies' header off a free kick from midfield missed wide of the right post. Babson then clinched the victory with just over two minutes gone in the second extra session, beginning when senior captain Max Walker (Newton, Mass.) took a throw-in from sophomore Thomas Elbling (Porta ALegre, Brazil) near the centerline and blasted a long service toward the goal mouth. There, Anderson out-jumped charging keeper Minchoff and headed the loose ball over his outstretched hands and into the upper right corner for his second goal of the game at 102:04.
Crowley was outstanding in net for the Beavers, finishing with nine saves, including five in a first half that saw the Judges outshoot the hosts, 11-3. Minchoff also played well for Brandeis, making four stops.