NCAA Tournament: Golden Bears Fall to Brandeis in Overtime, 2-1

Junior Maurice Young nets equalizer for Western New England in 87^th minute (Photo by Andrew Katsampes)

BABSON PARK, Mass. (November 12, 2016) – The Western New England University men's soccer team overcame a late deficit before falling to Brandeis University in overtime, 2-1, this afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Hartwell-Rogers Field on the campus of Babson College.

Making their first appearance on the national stage since 2013, the Golden Bears fell behind 1-0 in the 68^th minute, before junior forward Maurice Young (Walpole, Mass.) headed home the equalizer with just 3:22 remaining in regulation. Brandeis senior forward Zach Vieira (Andover, Mass.) scored the game-winner in the 94^th minute, however, securing the Judges a spot in tomorrow's second round. Western New England's season comes to a close at 11-10-1, while Brandeis (11-5-3) moves on to face Saint Joseph's (Maine), which topped Babson in penalty kicks in the first match of the day.

Top Performers
• Western New England senior goalkeeper Kevin Strobel (Rockland, Mass.) made eight saves in his final collegiate match, including several key stops in the first half to keep the game scoreless.
• Young's clutch goal in the 87^th minute, his third of the season, kept the Golden Bears alive and forced overtime.

• Vieira was the hero for Brandeis with his extra time game-winner, while senior midfielder Josh Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass.) provided assists on both of the Judges' goals.

Match Review
• Brandeis senior defender Thales Brito (Malden, Mass.) nearly gave the Judges a 1-0 lead following a corner kick in the 14^th minute, but his shot from point-blank range was stopped by Strobel.
• Western New England's best scoring chance of the half came just 3:37 later, when sophomore midfielder Nick Liccardi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) beat a Brandeis defender to a loose ball, leaving him 1-on-1 with Judges' junior goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse (Suffield, Conn.). Woodhouse was able to save Liccardi's attempt from the top of the box, keeping the game tied.
• Senior midfielder Kory Caster (Wilbraham, Mass.) made a key defensive play later in the half, heading away a ball at the goal line that was headed for the back of the net.
• Brandeis finally broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 68^th minute, when sophomore defender Stephen DePietto (Westbury, N.Y.) scored on a feed from Ocel.  
• The Golden Bears had a couple opportunities to pull even, but were unable to do so until the 87^th minute, when Young headed the equalizer past Woodhouse and into the net after receiving a pass from junior defender Connor Rubin (Guilderland, N.Y.).
• Just under four minutes into overtime, Vieira clinched the win for the Judges as he finished near the left post with the help of an assist from Ocel.

Notes
• Brandeis outshot Western New England 25-10, and the Judges also held a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks.
• The Golden Bears were making their ninth all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
• Woodhouse was forced to make just three saves for Brandeis, with two coming in the second half.