Brandeis Rallies for 2-1 Win over Stevens in NCAA Tournament Opener

Brandeis Rallies for 2-1 Win over Stevens in NCAA Tournament Opener

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Akuokor Sai '29

The #18-ranked Brandeis University men's soccer team won a hard-fought match at Gordon Field against Stevens Institute of Technology in the 1st round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship, taking a 2-1 victory to advance to the second round.

TEAM RECORDS
  • Brandeis, 10–3–5, ranked #18 in Division III by the United Soccer Coaches
  • Stevens, 9–4–6  
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After a highly contested first 35 minutes, Stevens broke through in the 36th minute with a goal by Emerson Kekesi off a rebound of Ethan Hagen's initial shot to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.
  • However, the Judges bounced back in the 41st minute when senior Nico Beninda (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) scored in the top left corner with an assist by senior Elan Romo (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay), tying the game at 1-1 at the end of the half.
  • The second half was more intense with both teams fiercely battling for possession and having several attempts on goal.
  • After many close chances, junior Keller Chamovitz (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) gave Brandeis the lead in the 83rd minute, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper with a key assist by first-year Langston Byrd (Austin, Texas/NYC School (N.Y.)).
  • In the final minutes of the game, senior goalkeeper Tyler Correnti (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) made several crucial saves to give the Judges the win. 
  • Correnti denied the Ducks' Lucas Mendes in the 88th minute and Ben Goldberg in the 89th to keep the Judges in the lead.
  • "I think we work well as a team, and we work hard, and my teammates do a good job of finding the right moments to play through," said Chamovitz, speaking on how the Judges pull through tough situations late in the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • This match marks the fifth time this season in their 10 wins that Brandeis has come from behind to win.
  • Beninda had three shots on goal, the highest in the match. 
  • Correnti made five saves in the match, with three coming in the last three minutes of the game.
  • Byrd's assist was his first of the season.
  • The match was the first meeting between Brandeis University and Stevens Institute of Technology.