The Justice

Forward Ben Premo '09 attempts one of the Judges' 13 missed shots in its 1-0 loss to Wheaton College. Photo by David Sheppard-Brick/the Justice

The men's soccer team stymied Wheaton College's offense in the first 93 minutes of Thursday's home game, but that wasn't enough to prevent the visitors from storming the field in celebration.

Wheaton rookie midfielder Kyle Sye scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the 94th minute to give Wheaton a dramatic 1-0 victory, leaving the Judges bitterly disappointed.

With the loss, Brandeis dropped to 2-2-2 on the season.

"We deserved to win the game, [but] the best team doesn't always win," Brandeis coach Mike Coven said. "We had one breakdown in the overtime period and they capitalized on it."

After a scoreless regulation, neither team attempted a shot until Sye's game-winner.

Wheaton rookie midfielder Yuri Moreira beat his defender down the sideline and fed Sye, who slid a shot past diving Brandeis goalie Taylor Bracken '10.

"[The goal was] disappointing," Bracken said. "It was a well-earned goal. [The shot] was point-blank for me. There was nothing I could do but put my body in front of it."

Wheaton's players ran to mob Sye, while the dejected Judges slunk to their bench.

"Our forwards were having trouble holding the ball [in regulation]," Sye said.

"In overtime, [Wheaton] coach [Matt Cushing] got us pumped up and we wanted to win."

Due to Sye's goal, the Judges are now winless in their last 12 games against Wheaton, dating back to 1997.

"It was really tough," assistant coach Gabe Margolis-a former captain of the Wheaton team during his playing career-said. "[The players] put everything they had [into the game], but that's soccer. The ball bounces funny one way and it decides a game."

Brandeis had 15 shot attempts against Wheaton, but was unable to finish any scoring opportunities. Through six games, the team has mustered 96 shots, but has been held to one goal or none in four of those games.

"It's tough to lose in overtime no matter what, but we played a strong game all throughout, [and] there [were] a couple of shots we should have converted," midfielder Corey Bradley '10 said.

Continued...

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