SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Brandeis University men's soccer junior Josh Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Acad.) buried a penalty kick in the second overtime tonight as the Judges, ranked #7 in Division III, avoided an upset against Hardin-Simmons University of Abilene, Texas.
The Judges trailed after surrendering a goal in the sixth minute. The Cowboys' Dustin Beal headed home a free kick by Tanner Coffin as the Judges trailed in regulation for the first time this season.
Brandeis got a break in the 26th minute, when HSU's Danny Benyamin was shown a red card. The Judges played a man up the rest of the way. Senior forward Chris Bradley (E. Brunswick, N.J. / E. Brunswick) scored the equalizer in the 38th minute, when he converted a pass from rookie back Stephen DePietto (Westbury, N.Y. / Berkshire School).
After the teams went scoreless through the second half and the first overtime, Bradley was also involved in the game-winner. He dribbled into the box, beat a defender and was hauled down from behind. The act drew a penalty kick, and Ocel converted to give the Judges the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Judges outshot HSU, 23-6, including 19-4 after the red card.
- Brandeis senior Kenn Fryer (Wilmington, Mass. / St. John's Prep) made one save in the win.
- while the Judges also cleared a ball off the line in the 49th minute on Blake Odell header.
- The Cowboys' Michael Vargas had seven stops in goal in the losing effort.
- This was the Judges' first-ever game played in Texas.
COVEN'S CORNER
- The win was No. 497 in the career of head coach Mike Coven
- In his 43rd season, Coven is looking to become the sixth Division III coach and 11th overall in NCAA history with 500 career wins
- He is the second longest-tenured active coach in college soccer behind Tony Tocca of D2 Rockford.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis is now 2-0 on the season.
- Hardin-Simmons falls to 0-1 in dropping its third-straight season opener.
- The Judges are 38-1 in the last four regular seasons against non-conference opponents, 44-4-1 since 2012 including the NCAA tournament.
UP NEXT
Brandeis is back in action tomorrow evening at 9 p.m./8 Central for a Top 10 showdown against their hosts, #6 Trinity University, in San Antonio. They return home on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for a 4 p.m. match against Nichols College.