They rarely get shut out like this. With 18 goals in seven games, the men's soccer team had no problem putting the ball in the net. But last week the Judges endured their worst stretch of the season. The team was shutout 2-0 by visiting Bridgewater State College on Wednesday before falling by the same score to host University of Rochester in their conference opener on Saturday.

It was the first time the Judges lost consecutive games this season, and before this week the Judges had only been shut out once, early in the season against Clark University. After a 4-0 win over Colby Sawyer last Monday and the ensuing two-game losing streak, the Judges are 5-4 on the season.

"It's disappointing because we were playing really well," Coach Mike Coven said. "We were on a roll and then the ceiling just caved in on us."

"For the most part I have to give credit to the [Rochester] defense," Shelton Stewart '06 said. "They really did their homework in marking me and [Yuval Ezer '07]. But we are not playing the type of soccer we were playing earlier in the year."

The Judges traveled to Rochester on Saturday with high expectations for their conference schedule opener against the Yellowjackets. Winning the UAA crown comes with an automatic berth to the Division III tournament, a goal the Judges are hell-bent on achieving. But they were unable to muster a goal in the game, with the Yellowjackets defense carefully keying in on the Judges offensive duo of Stewart and Ezer.

Both Stewart and Yuval managed only one shot each and the Judges registered only five shots in the game. Ezer and Chris Jorge '05 each had opportunities to score in the first half but both missed a header. Rochester midfielder Gary Strorm scored in the first half and midfielder Eric Jablonka scored in the second half as Judges goalkeeper Jake Knoll '08 had two saves against four shots on goal.

"We played even with them the first half," Coven said. "The second half things really started to fall apart. They really took it to us."

Before traveling to Rochester, the Judges hosted Bridgewater State last Wednesday. The Judges had the same offensive problems against the Bears, this time getting off 24 shots but not one of them a clean look at the goal as the Judges registered zero shots on goal. Both Knoll and Pat Madridakis '05 split the time in goal for the Judges, each allowing one goal with two saves. Both goals came on free kicks as the Judges lost 2-0.

"Everybody knows about Shelton and Yuval now," Coven said. "[Teams] are covering them really tight."

Before the Bears came to Waltham, the Judges traveled to New London, N.H. to take on Colby Sawyer College last Monday night in a game that ended too late to be covered in last week's issue. Stewart had two goals and two assists against the Chargers as the Judges cruised to an easy 4-0 victory. Stewart scored the first and fourth goal in the game, while Charles Goodhue '06 and Scott Zacharoff '07 also each had a goal. Ezer and captain Mike Pio '05 assisted on Goodhue's goal, while Zacharoff scored off a missed shot by Ezer. Knoll had four saves in his third shutout of the season.

One issue that greatly concerns Coven is the inherent disadvantage that comes with playing at the Brandeis soccer field. Brandeis' field is 10 yards too short and 10 yards too narrow. With teams cuing in their defense on Yuval and Shelton, the field seems even smaller for the two scorers. In addition, divots and ruts in the field often cause balls to be misplayed. Against Bridgewater State, Stewart had an easy breakaway opportunity but the ball hit a divot and was redirected.

"It's common knowledge [that] our field is horrendous," Coven said. "Our field is so choppy and so beat up, you can't get a flat pass. Our own home field is a disadvantage. I'd be just as happy to play my home games away,"

Looking to rebound from their first losing streak of the season, the Judges go into this week needing to re-establish confidence. The Judges visit MIT on Wednesday before hosting Case Western Reserve in another UAA match up on Saturday.

"We're still a very good soccer team," Coven said. "We've missed some opportunities, but we're inches away from being an excellent team."

"We're still doing a lot of good things," Stewart said. "Hopefully we'll tie everything together, get the big win and move on from there.

Until the Judges get back on track, Coven knows the team will continue to work as hard as they have, and work together."

"There's a tremendous camaraderie on this team," Coven said. "They stick together well."

"We still believe in each other," Zacharoff said. "We know we just need one game to breakout. We're not losing focus.