ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Brandeis men's soccer 2014 campaign came to an end today one step shy of the Final Four as the fifth-ranked Judges fell to No. 3 Oneonta State, 3-0, on the road in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. The Judges tie the program record for wins in a season with a 19-3-1 record, while Oneonta is the final undefeated team in Division III, as the Red Dragons improve to 21-0-2.
Oneonta scored the earliest goal surrendered by the Judges this season in the eighth minute. Dylan Williams slotted the ball on the left side of the box to Jake Sutherland. Sutherland drove a shot that beat Brandeis senior keeper Joe Graffy (Concord, N.H./Concord) for his 11th goal of the season.
The Red Dragons kept the pressure on in the first half, outshooting the Judges, 6-3, including 5-1 in shots on net. Graffy made back-to-back saves on Oneonta's Hans Purtell in the 17th minute, but the Brandeis defense had the line covered to keep the rebounds harmless. Senior Michael Soboff (Framingham, Mass./Newton North) had the Judges' only shot on Oneonta's Vincent Pellegrino in the first half in the 30th minute. It marked the first time this season the Judges trailed at the break.
Early in the second half, the Judges nearly got an equalizer in the 49th minute. Sophomore midfielder Josh Ocel (No. Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Acad.) struck a shot from the right of the box that hit the far post. The ball caromed back across in front of the goal to a Red Dragon player, allowing the home team to start a counter attack. The Red Dragons worked the ball to the right side of the field, where Cory Santangelo chipped it through the box to a wide open Greg Silvestro, who buried his second goal of the season to make SUNY-Oneonta only the second team to score more than once on the Judges this season.
Ocel had another terrific chance in the 66th minute, when his shot ticketed for the upper 90 was punched over the net by Pellegrino. Senior forward Tyler Savonen (Orleans, Mass./Nauset Regional) had his best opportunity in the 76th minute, when he dribbled around three defenders and shot at the short side post, but just hit the outside netting. Again the hosts were able to take advantage. Oneonta pressed into the box on the ensuing free kick. Graffy came off his line to try to intercept service, but was unable to corral the ball, allowing the Red Dragons' Justin Rivera to slam the ball into the empty net to close out the scoring.
The Judges outshot Oneonta State, 8-5, in the second half and had six corners to 0 for the hosts, but it wasn't enough. Pellegrino made four saves in the second half and five for the game. Graffy finished with six stops for Brandeis.
Brandeis just misses out on their first Final Four in 30 years, but they tie the 1984 squad with their 19 victories this season. The Judges also set program records for shutouts (17), fewest goals allowed (9) and lowest goals-against average (0.38). They will graduate UAA MVP Savonen, first-team All-UAA goalkeeper Graffy and second-leading scorer Michael Soboff, but their other eight starters are expected back in 2015.