WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's soccer team saw an 11-match unbeaten streak snapped today as the Judges, ranked No. 4 in Division III by D3soccer.com and No. 7 by the NSCAA suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Washington University in a University Athletic Association contest today.
With the loss, the Judges drop to 12-2-1, 3-1 in the UAA. Washington improves to 9-2-3, 2-1-1 in the conference. Brandeis hadn't lost since a 2-0 defeat at Trinity (Texas) on Sept. 5. It also marks the first loss at home for the Judges since 2013, a string of 25 matches. The Judges were 23-0-2 since a loss to Rochester on Oct. 12, 2013. WashU was also responsible for one of the two draws on Gordon Field in that span.
The game-winning goal came early in the match, just 5:05 in. Bear junior midfielder Corey Meehan sent a long ball forward from the left side of the field. Brandeis sophomore Ben Woodhouse (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) came off his line to try to make a play on it, but WashU junior Kevin Goon beat Woodhouse to the ball and chipped it into the empty net. It was Goon's fifth of the season.
Brandeis had a chance to equalize less than five minutes later, but junior Michael Chaput (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) banged one off the post and the Judges were unable to punch home the rebound.
The visitors added a key insurance goal in the 61st minute. Senior Ike Witte put a cross from the right sideline into the box and onto the head of rookie Ryan Sproule. Sproule sent the ball back across the goal mouth past the diving Woodhouse for his fourth tally of the season. The Judges turned up the pressure in the second half, getting off nine shots to just three in the first, but they were unable to bury a couple of open chances.
The Judges outshot WashU, 12-10, for the match, but the Bears put seven of their shots on frame, compared to just one for Brandeis. Woodhouse finished with five saves, while Daniel Geanon had one stop for the visitors.
Brandeis is off for nine days until their final non-conference match on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at home against Lasell. WashU takes on local rival Fontbonne on Oct. 21.