WALTHAM, Mass. – After leading the Brandeis University men's soccer team to the second weekend of the NCAA Division III tournament, Judge seniors Mike Lynch of Weymouth, Massachusetts, and Ben Woodhouse of Suffield, Connecticut, have been named the University Athletic Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.
Lynch scored both game-winning goals for Brandeis in the opening rounds. His 15th-minute strike was all the Judges needed in a 3-0 win over Western Connecticut State University on Saturday evening. Against sixth-ranked Rutgers-Newark on Sunday night, Lynch scored the game's only goal in the 67th minute to put Brandeis into the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the sixth year in a row. Lynch now leads the Judges with six goals this season. Of the 11 goals he has scored in his career, five have come in the NCAA tournament – three last year and two so far this season.
Woodhouse returned to the Brandeis lineup after missing nearly a month due to injury. He made two saves to record his 20th career shutout against Western Connecticut. Against Rutgers-Newark, Woodhouse made six saves, most notably stopping a penalty kick in the 54th minute against the Scarlet Raiders' leading scorer. He also made an incredible leaping stop less than two minutes after Lynch's go-ahead goal. With the two wins, Woodhouse moved into second place on Brandeis's career list with 37 wins, while his 21 shutouts rank third all-time.
Brandeis, who entered the tournament ranked 19th in Division III in the United Soccer Coaches national poll and 20th in the D3soccer.com poll, own a record of 15-4 headed into the sectional round of the NCAA tournament. The Judges meet unbeaten Drew University (21-0-1) in the next round, which will be held at Tufts University on Saturday, November 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Lynch is a 2013 graduate of Weymouth High School.
Woodhouse is a 2014 graduate of Suffield High School.
For more information on Brandeis University men's soccer, please visit our home page at http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/msoc/