Men's soccer rallies past Babson, 2-1, in 67th meeting

Jake Warren '20 (photo by Norman Cohen)
Jake Warren '20 (photo by Norman Cohen)

WALTHAM, Mass. – In the 67th meeting between two historic rivals, the Brandeis University men's soccer team scored once in each half to claim a 2-1 victory over visiting Babson College on Gordon Field today. With the win, the Judges improve to 3-1 on the season and 27-30-10 in the series with the Beavers. Babson falls to 2-1 on the campaign.

The visitors broke the ice in the 26th minute. Senior Youcef Ziad sent a cross from the right side along the ground through the Brandeis 18-yard box. Nobody got a foot on the ball until Babson sophomore Liam Hanlon on the left of the net, sent it back and under a diving Greg Irwin (Passaic, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) for his first goal of the season.

The Judges responded with an equalizer just over 12 minutes later in the 37th minute. Senior back Dylan Hennessy (New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) received a pass back after his own throw-in before finding the foot of rookie forward Will DeNight (Miami, Fla./MAST Academy). DeNight took some space at the top of the box and rifled a shot off the crossbar and in from 20 yards out. The goal was DeNight's second of the season. The Judges outshot Babson, 11-5 in the first half, but the match was deadlocked at 1-all.

Brandeis snapped the tie early in the second half. After a corner kick, Babson was whistled for a foul just outside the top left corner. Hennessy and rookie back Adam Kulick (Hollywood, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) stood over the ball, with the rookie sending it into the box. Senior forward Jake Warren (Medway, Mass./Medway) was on the spot, heading the ball just off the crossbar and over the line. It was his first goal of the season, sixth of his career. It was also the second game-winner of Warren's career.

The Judges were able to keep the Beavers at bay the rest of the way, with Irwin making two more saves en route to the win. He finished with five stops, while Babson senior Steven Heintzelman made six stops in the losing effort.

Brandeis is now 5-2 in the last seven meetings against Babson. This was the ninth time in the last 11 meetings decided by one goal, and the second-straight 2-1 win at home for the Judges in the series. The home team has won the last five meetings, and the Judges have not lost at home to the Beavers since 2002.

Brandeis meets a third-straight NEWMAC opponent on Wednesday evening when they take on WPI at 7 p.m. Babson heads to Amherst College on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the third game of a four-game road trip.