Judges shut out SVC, 2-0, and are top-seeded in ECAC soccer

Opponents scoreless in 11 of 13 Brandeis wins

Judges' goalkeeper Blake Minchoff '13 led UAA in shutouts.

Junior Lee Russo scored two goals off headers, one early and one late, to lead the top-seeded Brandeis University men's soccer team past eighth-seeded Southern Vermont College, 2-0, in the quarterfinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England championship tournament.

With the win, the Judges improve to 13-5-1 and move on to host the semifinals and finals, while SVC's finest season comes to a close with a 12-6-1 record.

Russo opened the scoring 9:15 into the game. The play started as rookie back Robbie Lynch got free down the right sideline. Lynch sent a laser cross through the box that Russo was able to head home for his seventh goal of the season. The assist was Lynch's first collegiate point.

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Preview of Saturday's ECAC semifinal game

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Russo tacked on the insurance goal in the 83rd minute, after sophomore back Ben Applefield dribbled to the endline and sent another hard cross that Russo redirected inside the left post. The assist was Applefield's second of the campaign.

With his eighth goal of the season, Russo moves into Brandeis's career top 24 scoring leaders with 19 goals and eight assists for 46 points. In four career ECAC tournament games, Russo has seven goals, including a four-goal performance in last year's quarterfinal.

The Judges controlled play for the entire game, outshooting SVC 31-0. The Mountaineers got stellar goalkeeping from rookie Connor Anniello, who made 12 saves, two shy of his career high. It was Anniello's fifth match of 10 or more stops this season. Brandeis goalkeeper Blake Minchoff  did not have to make any saves en route to his 11th shutout of the season, setting a new Brandeis single-season record.

Brandeis now will host the semifinals and finals of the ECAC tournament as the Judges bid to win back-to-back titles and their fourth title overall. The team takes on fifth-seeded Norwich University Saturday at noon. The Cadets defeated UMass Boston, 3-1, in the quarterfinals. The other semifinal, which will take place at 2:30 p.m., will pit second-seeded Albertus Magnus, 3-2 winners over Endicott, against third-seeded Castleton State, who prevailed over Worcester State, 2-1, in double overtime. The championship match will take place Sunday at noon at Brandeis and be broadcast live on WBRS (100.1 FM) and streamed online.