Savonen helps #15 MSoccer beat the heat and Bridgewater State, 4-1

Tyler Savonen '15 (photo by Mike Lovett)
Tyler Savonen '15 (photo by Mike Lovett)

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Brandeis University men's soccer forward got five points from senior forward Tyler Savonen (Orleans, Mass./Nauset Regional) today as the 15th-ranked Judges defeated Bridgewater State University, 4-1, to capture their 3rd straight win.

With the game moved ahead by an couple of hours to avoid thunderstorms in the forecast, and a hot humid day with temperatures in the 90s, plenty of action took place in the early minutes of the game.  Savonen opened up the scoring right at the 12-minute mark by receiving a cross from sophomore Evan Jastremski (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) and volleying it past the goalie with one touch.

Just a little over 11 minutes later, Savonen gave sophomore Zach Vieira (Andover, Mass./Brooks School) a through ball that took little effort to kick and hit the twine.

In the 31st minute, Savonen scored again, slipping a feed from classmate Foti Andreo (Lynn, Mass./Phillips Exeter Academy) into the right side of the netting. It marked Savonen's fifth-career multi-goal game, while the five points were one shy of his career best. He recorded a hat trick last season on Oct. 15 against Massachusetts Maritime. Savonen also climbed Brandeis's career scoring lists with his performance, moving to 13th on the career points list with 73 and 10th on the goal scoring list with 29.  

With a score of 3-0 late in the first half, Bridgewater State spoiled Brandeis senior Joe Graffy's (Concord, N.H./Concord) shutout bid. Prince Collins lofted a long shot from 35 yards out off the far post and in with 48 second left in the half.

The lone goal of the second half came at 51:30. Sophomore Josh Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Academy) took the rebound after two great saves by BSU goalie Colin Jepson and buried the Judges' third attempt in the back of the net. 

Brandeis improved to 3-0 with the win, while BSU falls to 1-2. Graffy earned the win with two saves, while Jepson had four stops in the losing effort.

The Judges return to action Tuesday afternoon at Lasell College at 4 p.m.

-- by Kyle Martin