Resilience is the story of the Brandeis men’s soccer team this year. Fighting back from a slow start, the Judges have kept their heads above water against opponents in the University Athletics Association conference. This past weekend they displayed their typical tendency for a tenacious and unrelenting defense of their just barely winning record. Their first match against Emory University was less than exciting for the Judges in a match that left much to be desired from both teams, but their second showing versus the University of Rochester was a thrilling showdown between two teams vying for a winning conference record. 

The Judges faced the UAA’s current leading goal scorer in Emory’s Ryan Winkler on Friday, Oct. 25 at home in Waltham. True to form, Winkler nailed his eighth goal of the season in the 37th minute — a shot on goal from 20 yards out that got past Judges’ goalie Quintin Wrabley ’25. The Judges held off the Eagles for the rest of the game despite being outshot 12-7, but they were unable to convert. 

After losing a game defined by one goal, the Judges sought to make a statement in their following game on Sunday Oct. 27 versus the University of Rochester. The Yellowjackets claimed an early lead after a neat throw in found the box and then the net in perfect succession in the 15th minute. But Brandeis was quick to answer with a goal in the 24th minute thanks to Maddox Yu ’27 who landed a shot, arching over 50 yards to bounce behind Rochester’s goalkeeper, Santino Lupica-Tondo. At 29:26, Elan Romo ’26 launched another far away shot from 20 yards — the ball again soaring over the head of the Yellowjackets goalie. 

To close the first half, the Judges scored in the 38th minute, marking their eventual victory. Kenshin Murakawa ’27 capitalized on a corner kick opportunity and Andres Gonzalez ’25 headed the ball just inside the near goalpost. This was Gonzalez’s first goal of the season.

The second half was evenly fought, with both teams making five shots after the first half saw the Judges with the advantage, 11-7. In the 63rd minute, the Yellowjackets proved to be no easy win, converting off a penalty kick to make the score 3-2. However, the Judges squashed any momentum that Rochester was hoping for, ending the game with 16 shots to the Eagles’ 12 and 7-4 in shots on goal.

The game ended 3-2, with Rochester allowing the most goals of their season thus far. This well-earned win was rewarded: the Judges now sit tied for second with the University of Chicago in the UAA standings. Emory is ranked first with a 4-1-0 UAA record. 

Up next for the men are the Case Western Reserve University Spartans, which the Judges will face in Cleveland on Sunday Nov. 3. They seek to cement their current winning records, 7-5-2 overall and 3-2 in UAA action, as anticipation builds for the postseason.