KEENE, N.H. (taken from a Keene State press release) – The 12th-ranked Brandeis University men's soccer team got a goal and an assist from a senior and a rookie today as they defeated host Keene State College on the first day of the XARA Men's Soccer Classic at Keene State's Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. Junior Michael Soboff (Framingham, Mass./Newton South) scored a late second half goal on an assist from senior Sam Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) to lead Judges. The duo connected in the first half as well, with Soboff getting the helper for Ocel.
Keene State took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute on a quick-give-and-go play in front of the Brandeis net. Senior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) dribbled up the field and after laying it off to junior Michael Jacques (Tolland, Conn.) got the ball back and buried it into the left corner of the net.
The Judges answered five minutes later when senior forward Kyle Feather (Pinebrook, N.J./Montville Township) converted a low cross from senior back Ben Applefield (Avon, Conn./Avon). The goal was the 17th of Feather's career, and he now stands one point shy of cracking Brandeis's career top 30. The assist was the 11th of Applefield's career.
Brandeis took their first lead lead in the 34th minute when Soboff sent a cross in front that was headed homed by Ocel. The goal was Ocel's 24th of his career, putting him one shy of becoming the 14th player in school history with 25 tallies.
Douglas had a chance to get the equalizer for Keene State early in the second half. With a defender on his back, he dribbled in and let fly a shot that went just wide of the far post.
Douglas set up the tying goal in the 69th minute when he sent in sophomore Eric Dietz (Woodland, Conn.) A sprinter on the KSC track team, Dietz went down the left side and put the ball into the top corner of the net.
Brandeis scored the game-winner with less than 10 minutes left in regulation. KSC junior goalie Mike Ketterman (Monson, Mass.) made the initial save on a shot by Ocel. Ocel got his own rebound and fed Soboff, who slid the ball into the open net at the 9:21 mark for his first collegiate goal. With his three-point day, Ocel moved into 14th place on the career scoring list with 68 points.
Ketterman finished the game with four saves for KSC. Junior Joe Graffy (Concord, N.H./Concord) made three saves for the Judges in his first collegiate start. The win marked the fifth time since the start of 2012 that the Judges came from behind to win a game.
The first game between Rowan (N.J.) University and Hobart (N.Y.) College was decided in the final minutes of play.
Hobart missed an opportunity to get the game-winner with 25 minutes to play in the second half. Sophomore Marco Romming (Stockholm, Sweden) had a drive from just outside the box that sailed high over the net.
Rowan capitalized on its opportunity, scoring the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick with 1:30 to play. After a penalty in the box, senior Dylan Smith (Hamilton, N.J.) scored on a shot into the lower right corner of the net.
Senior Ryan Gill (West Deptford, N.J.) made nine saves for Rowan. Junior Mike Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa.) stopped three shots for Hobart.
On Sunday, Keene State plays Hobart at 2:30 p.m. and Rowan takes on Brandeis at 12:30 pm.