BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY: MIT blasts Judges

Behind Christian Therkelsen's game-high six points, the MIT men's soccer team powered to a 5-0 victory over local foe Brandeis University in a non-conference game yesterday.

Brandeis (6-5) made the first charge at net with a low blast by Ben Premo that was ultimately stopped by MIT goalkeeper Tom Caldwell. The Judges recorded two more shots before the Engineers (11-0-1) made their first attack downfield. Neil Zimmerman sent a through ball to Therkelsen, who curled the ball around Brandeis netminder Sean O'Hare for the opening goal in the fifth minute. The Judges controlled the ball for the next 12 minutes, tallying a trio of corner kicks and shots, including a blistering point-blank attempt by Alexander Farr that was smothered by Caldwell.

On the ensuing attack, Therkelsen sent a low cross from the near sideline to Zachary Kabelac, who redirected the ball with the inside of his left foot to left side of the net. The Engineers extended their lead to 3-0 in the 25th minute when passes by Therkelsen and Kabelac set up Peter Bojo for a goal.

In the 55th minute, Brandeis' Jamie Batista split his defenders and sent a cross to Premo, whose resulting header was just wide. On the Engineers' next attack, a free kick by Jason Zhu from the near sideline was punched out by O'Hare, but the ball ended up at Therkelsen's feet and he quickly blasted a shot into the right side of the goal.

The Judges almost ended the shutout in the 73rd minute when Kevin Murphy's diving header on a Patrick Metelus corner kick was cleared off the line at the post. MIT capped off the scoring in the 78th minute when Max Stein-Golenbock sent a pass from Kabelac on the ground that just hit the inside of the far post and bounced into the net. In the 87th minute, Metelus' strike was stopped by MIT goalie Dylan Rankin as the ensuing rebound remained in possession of the Judges but they could not convert the scoring opportunity.

Brandeis hosts UAA opponent Case Western Reserve University on Saturday.