Box Score

WALTHAM, MA --- The Thomas College men's soccer team was sidelined by Brandeis University, 2-1, in an NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship first-round match on Saturday.

Brandeis midfieldler Josh Ocel scored the game-winning goal with 42 seconds to play, taking a free kick off the foot of Conor Lanahan and launching a rocket shot into the right side past a diving Joakim Sternas (Stockholm, Sweden).

Thomas (13-5-1) gained the early advantage with a goal in the 14th minute as freshman DJ Nicholas (Portland, Maine) sent forward a through ball on a counter-attack that was pegged home by sophomore midfielder Willie Clemons (Paget, Bermuda). It was Clemons' ninth goal of the season.

The Judges (17-2-1) answered in the 24th minute as Josh Handler made a cross from the right sideline to sophomore Patrick Flahive, who headed it past a charging Sternas for his third goal of the year.

Statistically, Brandeis controlled the game in the first half, outshooting Thomas, 16-2, and taking eight of the nine corner kicks in the half. Clemons was shown a red card in the 32nd minute, forcing the Terriers to play a man down for the duration of the match. Thomas hung with the third-ranked Judges, however, behind the strong play of Sternas, who made seven of his 10 saves after Thomas was rendered shorthanded.

Brandeis finished the game with a 33-5 edge in shots, including a 12-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Judges also had a 15-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The loss concludes the stellar careers of midfielder Tre Ming (Devonshire, Bermuda) and defenders Lukas Bohman (Gnesta, Sweden) and Chris Godfrey (South Hampton, Bermuda).