KEENE, N.H. 8/31/12 – Brandeis University and Rowan (N.J.) University posted wins in opening day action in the XARA men's soccer classic at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.  Freshman Michael Soboff (Framingham, Mass.) scored a late second half goal to lead 12th ranked Brandeis to a 3-2 win over Keene State in the second game and Rowan defeated Hobart 1-0 in a first game that decided on a penalty kick in the closing minutes of play.

Keene State took a 1-0 lead at the 29:48 mark half on a quick-give-and-go play in front of the Brandeis net.  Senior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) dribbled up the field and after laying it off to junior Michael Jacques (Tolland, Conn.) got the ball back and buried it into the left corner of the net.

The Judges answered five minutes later when senior Kyle Feather (Pinebrook, N.J.) converted a low cross from senior Ben Applefield (Avon, Conn.)

Brandeis took the lead with 11:53 to go in the half.  Junior Michael Soboff (Framingham, Mass.) sent a cross in front that was headed homed by senior Sam Ocel (North Attleboro, Mass.).

Douglas had a chance to get the equalizer for Keene State at the 32:35 mark of the second half.  With a defender on his back, he dribbled in and let fly a shot that went just wide of the far post.

Douglas set up the tying goal at the 21:14 mark when he sent in sophomore Eric Dietz (Woodland, Conn.)  A sprinter on the KSC track team, Dietz went down the left side and put the ball into the top corner of the net. 

Brandeis took the lead (3-2) at the 9:21 mark.  KSC senior goalie Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) made the initial save on a shot by Ocel. Ocel got his own rebound and fed Soboff, who slid the ball into the open net.  

Cheney finished the game with four saves for KSC.  Junior Joe Graffy made three saves for the Judges.

It was a step in the right direction for the Owls, who lost tournament games to Brandeis in 2011 (4-0) and last season (3-0).

The first game between Rowan University and Hobart (N.Y.) College was decided in the final minutes of play. 

Hobart missed an opportunity to get the game-winner with 25 minutes to play in the second half.  Sophomore Marco Romming (Stockholm, Sweden) had a drive from just outside the box that sailed high over the net.

Rowan capitalized on its opportunity, scoring the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick with 1:30 to play. After a penalty in the box, senior Dylan Smith (Hamilton, N.J.) scored on a shot into the lower right corner of the net. 

Senior Ryan Gill (West Deptford, N.J.) made nine saves for Rowan.  Junior Mike Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa.) stopped three shots for Hobart.

On Sunday, Keene State plays Hobart at 2:30 p.m. and Rowan takes on Brandeis at 12:30 pm.