ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Courtesy UR sports information) – A 22nd-minute goal proved to be the difference tonight as the 15th-ranked Brandeis University men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision in University Athletic Association play at the University of Rochester tonight.
Brandeis falls to 2-1 in the UAA, 9-3 overall, The Judges saw a four-game winning streak snapped. They came to Fauver Stadium having won eight of their last nine. Rochester improves to 8-2-2 overall, 2-1 in the UAA.
The Yellowjackets' Geoff Rouin scored the gamewinner for the second straight game in a 1-0 win for UR.
It was a match played at a dizzying pace. The Yellowjackets kept trying to push Rouin through on breakaways and had some success, although he had awful luck finishing. Good shots, well-taken, and they had the crowd ready to roar.
Brandeis excelled in taking the ball away on the dribble. Senior Sam Vinson (Lauderhill, Fla. / American Heritage) was a standout on the back line, while sophomore Dylan Hennessy (New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) did a nice job as the left outside back although he was kept very busy countering Rouin's forays down the right sideline.
Rouin showed he could be dangerous very early in the match. Just over five minutes in, he swept down right wing and hit a wicked rising liner ticketed for the top corner. Brandeis senior goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) punched it over the bar for a corner which proved harmless.
The game's only goal came off what amounted to a set piece. Rochester earned a throw-in about 20 yards off the endline on the left. Bryce Ikeda took it and threw it into a packed goalmouth. Rouin was a step inside the crease and headed it into the right side of the net and Woodhouse's backpedal and lunge left the ball just out of his reach. It was scored in the 22nd minute.
Brandeis got most of its offensive orchestration from senior Josh Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Academy) in midfield. The ball found him at midfield numerous times and he would spray balls in both directions trying to find a way through the Rochester defense.
Midway through the second half, UR's JR Eisold fought to shield Judge senior Marino Espiga (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) away from the ball as Redd Brown raced off his line to snare a lead pass. Ocel nearly provided an equalizer for the guests with nine minutes left. His throw-in to the left post was headed just wide by sophomore Alex Walter (Londonderry, N.H./Lawrence Academy) with Eisold defending.
Brandeis is back in action on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. when they travel to Atlanta to meet Emory University in another UAA matchup. The Eagles lead the UAA at 3-0, with Brandeis, Rochester and Chicago each a game behind at 2-1. Rochester plays host to NYU at the same time.