BOSTON, Mass. – Senior forward Lee Russo (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) scored with 8:11 left in regulation to snap a 1-1 tie and lift the Brandeis University men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Wentworth in a non-conference contest played on Sweeney Field.
The Judges, ranked fifth in the latest D3Soccer.com National Poll and 10th in the latest NSCAA Division III Poll, survived an early scare when Leopard senior forward Matt Racca (Wakefield, R.I.) put a shot on goal in the second minute that was saved by senior Blake Minchoff (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional). From that point forward Brandeis controlled play throughout the first half, including just missing a chance to take the lead in the seventh minute when junior midfielder Kyle Feather's (Pinebrook, N.J./Montville Township) diving header attempt was saved by junior Cody Gibb (Foster, R.I.). The Judges finished the half with a 9-3 shot advantage and an 8-2 corner kick advantage.
Wentworth broke the stalemate at the 57:49 mark when sophomore Erik Shaw (Hooksett, N.H.) made a run along the right side and fed classmate Connor Gullifer (Scarborough, Maine), whose header beat Minchoff to the right side.
However, the lead would not last long as Brandeis got the equalizer 44 seconds later when senior midfielder Sam Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./No. Attleboro) fed Feather, whose shot beat Gibb to the right side.
Russo's team-leading ninth marker of the season came off a pass from junior forward Tudor Livadaru (Bronx, N.Y./Riverdale-Kingsbridge Acad.). Russo's shot was initially stopped by Gibb, but found its way over the line.
Racca had a chance to tie it in the 87th minute on a breakaway, but Minchoff came out and made the save to preserve the lead.
Minchoff made three saves to pick up the win, while Gibb made seven stops in defeat. Brandeis held a 19-10 shot advantage and a 13-3 corner kick advantage.
With the win the Judges improve to 9-0-0 on the season, extending their winning streak to 14 games dating back to last season. Brandeis opens University Athletic Association play on Saturday night at Rochester at 7 p.m. Wentworth falls to 1-6-1 and resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference play Saturday at Roger Williams