Brandeis Stories

Brandeis men’s soccer caps strong season in double-OT thriller against Tufts

Rainer O. ’26 weaves past a Tufts midfielder in the second round the NCAA tournament.
Rainer O. ’26 weaves past a Tufts midfielder in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Photography by Daniel Oren
November 17, 2025

The Brandeis men’s soccer team hung on until the very end Sunday against top-ranked Tufts University, falling 1-0 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Gordon Field. The 18th-ranked Judges beat Stevens Institute of Technology, 2-1, on Saturday to advance in the team’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017. Brandeis closed its season with a 10-4-5 record, their highest win total since 2019.

“I couldn't be more proud of the effort they put in, the work they put in all weekend, all season long,” said head coach Gabe Margolis. “Our guys competed all game long and went back and forth with another great team.’’

The following highlights capture key moments from both NCAA Tournament games, showcasing the energy and resilience that defined the Judges’ postseason run.

Keller C. ’27 sprints to beat a Stevens defender to the ball
Keller C. ’27 sprints to beat a Stevens defender to the ball during the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Rainer O. ’26 weaves through Stevens defenders.
Rainer O. ’26 weaves through Stevens defenders.
A crowd of Brandeis fans cheers from the bleachers.
Brandeis students and supporters cheer on the Judges from the sideline.
Langston B. ’29 heads the ball.
Langston B. ’29 rises for a header during the Judges’ match against the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks.
Nico B. ’26 passes the ball around a Stevens player to Aidan C. ’27.
Nico B. ’26 passes the ball around a Stevens player to Aidan C. ’27.
Head coach Gabe Margolis motivates his players during halftime against Stevens.
Head coach Gabe Margolis motivates the Judges during halftime.
Keller Chamovitz ’27 celebrates with Langston Byrd ’29 and Nico Beninda ’26 after scoring the winning goal against Stevens.
Keller C. ’27 celebrates with Langston B. ’29 and Nico B. ’26 after scoring the winning goal against Stevens.
Juan Vera ’27 dribbles the ball past a Tufts midfielder.
Juan V. ’27 dribbles the ball past a Tufts midfielder in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Kenshin Murakawa ’27, left, and Rainer Osselmann-Chai ’26 successfully block a shot from a Tufts striker.
Kenshin M. ’27 and Rainer O. ’26 successfully block a shot from a Tufts striker.
Dylan M. ’28 clears the ball away in the second round the NCAA Tournament.
Dylan M. ’28 clears the ball away in the Judges’ match against the Tufts Jumbos.
Kaden Collins ’28 shields the ball against a Tufts player.
Kaden C. ’28 shields the ball against a Tufts player.
Rainer Osselmann-Chai ’26, left, and Slater Loffredo ’26 win the ball away from a Tufts player.
Rainer O. ’26 and Slater L. ’26 win the ball away from Tufts.