KEENE, N.H. 9/2/12 –  Brandeis University and Ithaca College posted wins in the second day of the XARA Men's Soccer Classic at Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday.

Brandeis (2-0) scored three first half goals and coasted to a 4-0 shutout win over host Keene State (1-1) in the second game. Ithaca College (1-1) defeated Nichols College (0-2) 3-1 in the first game.

History repeated itself in the second game, as Brandeis, which blanked KSC 5-0 in last year's tournament, struck for three quick first half goals on Sunday.

Brandeis' first goal was scored on a direct kick by senior Sam Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass.) at the 23:50 mark of the first half.  The Judges were given the direct kick after a yellow card was given to Owl junior goalie Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.). 

Keene State's best opportunity to score in the half came less than a minute later. Coming off the bench, freshman Eric Dietz (Woodland, Conn.) broke in alone, but his bid was denied by Brandies senior goalie Blake Minchoff (Fiskdale, Mass.).

Cheney temporarily kept it a one goal game when he made a diving save on a drive by Ocel. However, Brandeis took over from there, netting two more goals to take a commanding 3-0 halftime lead.  Sophomore back Tyler Savonen (Orleans, Mass.) beat Cheney with a shot to the far corner at 9:12 and junior forward Tudor Livadaru (Bronx, N.Y.) scored on a header with 4:34 to go in the half to make it 3-0.

Sophomore Mike Ketterman (Monson, Mass.) took over in goal for KSC in the second half, but that didn't slow down the Judges.  Ocel finished off a crossing ball from Savonen five minutes into the half to push the Brandeis lead up to 4-0.    

KSC was unable to convert in its few scoring opportunities.  Later in the half, freshman Rushane Kelly (Keene, N.H.) broke in alone, but his shot sailed wide of the post.

"We struggled in the first half -four goalkeeping errors, four goals today," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "I thought the last 30 minutes we put some players in different spots and we had a chance to make it respectable."

"I told the guys it's not the end of the word.  We'll learn from this and see what happens," said Butcher. 

"We had two great games up here.  I don't' know what it is?  Maybe it's the clean New Hampshire air," said Brandeis Coach Mike Coven.  "We like playing here. This is a great facility, great field and I think good teams play well on fields like this.  Keene is a real good team and we just played well the last two years up here. 

The Judges outshot the Owls 14-10.  Cheney and Ketterman each played a half in goal and made one save.  Minchoff stopped three shots to post his second consecutive shutout.

Keene State is at Springfield College on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. non-conference game.

Ithaca College held off Nichols to win the first game 2-1. Ithaca got on the board first at the 26:53 mark of the first half.  On the end line, sophomore midfielder Greg Hepper (Longmeadow, Mass.) sent the ball back toward the middle where freshman midfielder Drew Tallon (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) who tapped it into the net.

The Bombers added to their lead 12 minutes later when sophomore midfielder Tim Goldman (Fayetteville, N.Y.) sent in sophomore midfielder A.J. Wolfanger (New Hartford, N.Y. to give Ithaca a 2-0 halftime lead.    

Nichols freshman Tiago Prazeres (West Hartford, Conn.) made it a 2-1 game with a rocket just under the crossbar at the 20:39 mark of the second half.

The Bison had a couple of chances to get the equalizer.   With four minutes to play, freshman Ryan Nunn's (Old Lyme, Conn.) shot sailed just over the net. .  A minute later, senior Thomas Milller's (Whitman, Mass.) shot from 20 yards out just skimmed off the far post.

Confusion between a Nichols' defender and goalie on a clearing play resulted in a goal by Goldman with 29 seconds to go to account for the final goal.

Junior goalkeeper David Kaminsky (Ithaca, N.Y.) made six saves to earn his first victory of the season for the Bombers.

XARA All-CLASSIC TEAM

Blake Minchoff – Brandeis

Tyler Savonen  - Brandeis

Sam Ocel – Brandeis

Lee Russo – Brandeis

Scott Douglas – Keene State

Tim Goldman – Ithaca

Donny Whittle – Nichols