WALTHAM, Mass.- On Senior Day the Brandeis Judges Men's Soccer team defeated University Athletic Association rival New York University at Gordon Field. In the first eight minutes of the game, junior midfielder Sam Ocel (No. Attleboro, Mass./ No. Attleboro) scored two goals, the first multi-goal game of his career. Ocel's efforts would lead to a 2-0 victory and a 12-5-1 (3-3-1 UAA) record for the Judges, their best regular season record since 2000. The Violets fell to 7-9-1 (2-5 UAA).
Brandeis started the first half strong and fast putting pressure on the Violets defense and goalie from the first minute. In the 5th minute, the Judges earned a corner kick. Junior forward Lee Russo (Westford, Mass./ Westford Acad.) played the ball into the middle of the box for the head of sophomore midfielder Kyle Feather (Pinebrook, N.J./ Montville Township). Feather flicked the ball on where it found the feet of Ocel on the edge of the goalie's box. Ocel finished with a one time rocket past NYU's diving rookie goalkeeper Forrest Sexton (Rumson, N.J./ Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) for the 1-0 lead.
The Judges did not let up after grabbing the early lead. In the 8th minute, senior midfielder Theo Terris (Concord, Mass./ Concord-Carlisle) carried the ball down the left side of the field towards the touch line. Just before a NYU defender closed on him, he lifted a left footed cross towards the back post. Ocel was there again for a header that went just under the crossbar and found the back of the net for the second time. Ocel's second goal gave him six on the year, tying him for the team lead.
The Judge's junior goalkeeper Blake Minchoff (Fiskdale, Mass./ Tantasqua Regional) played another strong match, earning his 10th shutout of the season. Minchoff's two save effort tied him with Jim Leahy for the single season shutout record. The Violet's Sexton finished the match with five saves and two goals allowed as the Judges outshot NYU 13-7 for the game. Today's game closed out the regular season for both NYU and Brandeis.