Posted: Sep 13, 2017
WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior Mike Lynch (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) scored a golden goal in the 100th minute tonight to give the host Brandeis University men's soccer team a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over WPI on Gordon Field. The Judges, ranked #20 in Division III by D3soccer.com improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Engineers fall to 3-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- WPI scored the only goal of the first half in the 38th minute. Senior back Derrick Naugler (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) sent a long free kick into the box. Junior forward Spencer Ralphs (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) broke free to head it home for his first goal of the season.
- After getting outshot, 4-2, in the first half, Brandeis put on the pressure in the second, outshooting WPI, 16-2.
- The Judges finally broke through in the 79th minute. Sophomore midfielder Max Breiter (Lincoln, Mass./Lawrence Academy) sent a cross through the box to senior Josh Berg (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth). Berg took one touch to settle the ball then blasted it inside the left post for his first of the season.
- WPI had two balls saved off the line, one in the 64th minute under Brandeis's pressure, and again in the 97th minute when Reese Petersen (Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton) denied the Judges' Noah Gans (Newton, Mass./Newton South).
- Brandeis netted the game-winner with less than a minute to go in the first overtime. Senior Josh Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Academy) took a long throw-in from the right sideline. It bounced once into the 18-yard box and onto the foot of Lynch, who netted his second of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Brandeis outshot WPI, 22-8, for the game, including 20-4 in the second half and overtime.
- Senior Ben Woodhouse (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) had four saves for the Judges to earn the win.
- WPI's Connor Hoeckele (Granby, Conn./Granby) had six stops in the losing effort.
- Berg's goal was his first since 2015.
- Lynch's goal was his third career game-winner and seventh overall.
- He is the first player on the Judges with two goals this season.
- Ocel's assist was his third of the campaign and the 37th of his career.
- Ocel is second on Brandeis's career list, seven shy of Rob Muller '77's 44 helpers. His 67 career points are 15th all time, tied with Mark Moroney '96.
THE RIVALRY
- Brandeis is 7-0-1 in the last eight meetings with WPI and 27-12-2 overall
- This was the third-straight overtime game between the two squads, but first decided in just one extra session.
UP NEXT
- Brandeis plays its third-straight home game Saturday at 1 p.m. against Elms College in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
- WPI opens its NEWMAC campaign on Saturday at noon with a trip to Babson College. .