DUDLEY, Mass. -- The ninth-ranked Brandeis University men's soccer team won its third-straight match to start the season, and first on the road, as the Judges scored twice in each half to defeat host Nichols College, 4-2. The Judges improve to 3-0, the Bison fall to 0-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
* Brandeis opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when senior Josh Ocel (No. Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Acad.) converted a penalty kick for his team-leading third goal of the season. The infraction saw a yellow card issued to Nichols keeper Patrick Porpora.
* The Judges doubled the lead in the 44th minute on a wicked volley from senior Michael Chaput (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) from 15 yards out. The assist went to sophomore Andrew Allen (Norfolk, Mass./King Phillip Regional).
* Brandeis's third goal came in the 74th minute, when Allen headed home an Ocel corner kick.
* The Bison spoiled Brandeis junior Ben Woodhouse's (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) shutout bid in the 74th minute when Paul Sickinger converted a rebound off a free kick that hit off the crossbar.
* The lead went back to three in the 83rd minute when Allen's initial shot was saved by NC rookie Carlos De La Cruz, but rookie Max Breiter (Lincoln, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) was there to poke home the rebound.
* The Bison closed the scoring in the 84th minute on a William Aldrich PK.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
* Ocel now leads the Judges with three goals and two assists for eight points.
* The points were the first in the career of Allen and Breiter.
* Woodhouse finished with six saves to earn the win.
* Nichols outshot Brandeis, 14-11, thanks to a 10-5 advantage in the second half.
* Porpora allowed three goals and made three saves in 68 minutes, while De La Cruz had two stops and one goal surrendered in 22 minutes.
* Brandeis improved to 2-0 against Nichols.
UP NEXT
* The Judges renew their rivalry with Babson for the 64th time on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. It is the most-played rivalry in Brandeis history.
* Nichols takes on Salve Regina Saturday at 3 p.m.