WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's soccer team got a pair of goals from rookie forward Will DeNight (Miami, Fla./MAST Academy) tonight as the Judges defeated rival MIT, 2-0, on Gordon Field in a non-conference matchup. With the win, the Judges improve to 5-2-3, while the Engineers suffer their first loss and fall to 4-1-4.
DeNight netted his second game-winning goal of the season in the 33rd minute. After a nice run-up, there was a 50-50 ball that was won by sophomore Jake Davis (Cardiff, Calif./San Dieguito Academy). Davis was able to slip it to DeNight at the top-left corner of the 18-yard box, and the rookie blasted it inside the near post for his fourth goal of the season.
DeNight would add a key insurance goal in the 72nd minute. After receiving the ball on the left flank, DeNight faked his way around a defender and sent a laser into the right netting to register his first collegiate multi-goal game. With five goals and 10 points on the season, DeNight now leads the University Athletic Association despite missing four of the Judges' 10 games.
Brandeis outshot MIT, 22-10, including 10-3 in shots on goal. Brandeis senior Greg Irwin (Passaic, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) made three saves for his third shutout in a row and fourth overall this season. Irwin has not allowed a goal in 340 minutes. MIT senior Jeremy Cowham made eight stops in the losing effort.
This was the 64th meeting between the two teams, the second-most against any opponent in Brandeis history. The Judges improve to 35-24-3 in the series, including 8-0-1 in the last nine meetings.
Brandeis returns to action on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. when they take on Carnegie Mellon in their University Athletic Association opener. MIT hosts Babson Saturday at 1 p.m. in a key NEWMAC showdown.