WALTHAM, Mass. – For the sixth straight year, the Brandeis University men's soccer team has qualified for the second weekend of play in the NCAA Division III tournament. The Judges defeated Rutgers-Newark, 1-0, on Gordon Field tonight, earning the right to continue playing. Brandeis – ranked No. 19 in Division III by the United Soccer Coaches and No. 20 by D3soccer.com, improves to 15-4 on the season. Rutgers-Newark sees their season come to a close at 20-3-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Judges had a pair of heroes on the night in seniors Ben Woodhouse (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) and Mike Lynch (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth).
• Woodhouse, playing in just his second game since October 18^th, made six saves on the night.
• His most spectacular stop came in the 54^th minute, when he denied RUN's leading scorer, Fabio DeSouza (Long Branch, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep), on a penalty kick with a diving save to left. DeSouza had been 4-4 on PKs this season.
• Energized by Woodhouse's save, the Judges got five of the next six shots. Scarlet Raider sophomore Andres Medina (Howell, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) made a couple of spectacular stops to keep the visitors alive.
• Brandeis senior Pat Flahive (Chatham, N.J./Worcester Academy) hit a post in the 65^th minute, shortly before the Judges broke through.
• In the 67^th minute, Brandeis senior Josh Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Academy) delivered a corner kick into a crowded box. Medina punched it away, but right on to the foot of Mike Lynch who blasted it home for his sixth goal of the season at the 66:50 mark.
• RUN increased its pressure after the goal, getting off nine more shots the rest of the way.
• Brandeis defenders blocked a majority of those shots, but Woodhouse came up with two more saves on Medina. He also made a spectacular diving save to his right on junior Breno Lutosa (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) less than two minutes after the goal.
• Woodhouse's play overshadowed a terrific game by Medina, who stopped 10 shots, including a pair of spectacular leaping saves in the first half.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brandeis owned a slim 21-18 edge in shots, but an 11-6 advantage in shots on net.
• The Judges had seven corners to four for RUN.
• Woodhouse finished with six saves for his 21^st career shutout.
• Lynch's goal was his team-leading sixth of the season.
• Of Lynch's 11 career goals, five have come in the past two NCAA tournaments, including three game-winners. He scored twice in last season's tournament meeting with Rutgers-Newark.
• With his assist on Lynch's goal, Ocel tied Brandeis's career mark with 44 helpers, matching Rob Muller '77. Ocel is the career active leader in NCAA Division III.

NCAA TOURNAMENT FACTS

• Brandeis has now qualified for six straight Sweet 16s, the second-longest active streak in Division III (pending tonight's results).
• The Judges and Scarlet Raiders met in last year's NCAA Division III tournament, when Brandeis took a 4-2 decision in the sectional finals to reach the Final Four.
• Brandeis will next meet Drew University at a site to be determined. The Rangers (21-0-1) defeated Franklin & Marshall, 3-2, and Lycoming, 1-0, to reach the Sweet 16.