ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The fourth-ranked Brandeis men's soccer team saw their 11-match winning streak come to a halt this afternoon as the Judges fell to the University of Rochester, 2-1, in a University Athletic Association contest at UR's Fauver Stadium. The Judges fall to 11-1 on the season, 1-1 in the UAA. Rochester improves to 6-3-2, 1-1 UAA.
The Judges and Yellowjackets were dead even in the first half with four shots apiece. UR senior Alex Swanger made Brandeis senior keeper Joe Graffy (Concord, N.H./Concord) make his best save of the season in the ninth minute. Swanger's header off a long throw-in was headed to the upper 90 before being punched away by Graffy. The Judges' best chance in the first 45 minutes came in the 32nd minute, when senior Tyler Savonen (Orleans, Mass./Nauset Regional) sent a cross that looked to put sophomore Mike Lynch (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) alone on goal. UR netminder Michael Shatkin came off his line and got to the ball at the same time as Lynch, smothering the attempt.
In the second half, UR nearly snapped the deadlock in the first four minutes when Alex Swanger hit the crossbar. Brandeis got its first two corner kicks of the game in the ensuing six minutes, but the Judges were unable to take advantage. Rochester finally broke the ice in the 57th minute. Ben Swanger, the sophomore younger brother of Alex, lofted a shot from right wing about 25 yards out towards the Brandeis net. It floated under the crossbar inside the far post for his first goal of the season. It was the first goal allowed by Graffy and the Judges in eight games and a span of 840 minutes.
The Yellowjackets doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, when sophomore Andrew Fafinski scored directly off a corner kick with a ball that reached the same far corner post as the first goal. The tally would prove important as Brandeis senior Foti Andreo (Lynn, Mass./Phillips Exeter) scored his first goal of the season with just under four minures left in regulation. His bending ball from the left corner of the box bounced through a crowd and past Shatkin before he had a chance to react. Andreo had one more attempt with 1:06 remaining, but the Judges were unable to equalize.
For the game Graffy and Shatkin each finished with four saves. UR became the second opponent to outshoot Brandeis this season, by a 12-8 margin, including 8-4 in the second half.
The Judges have a non-conference showdown on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Mass. Maritime Academy before entertaining Carnegie Mellon next Friday night at 5 p.m. and Emory next Sunday at 11 a.m. for Homecoming. Rochester hosts Chicago and Washington University next weekend at the same times.