WALTHAM, MA.- The number one seed Brandeis University survived a scare from eighth seeded Southern Vermont College in the first round of ECAC Men's Soccer action, Wednesday night. The host Judges scored a goal in each half to end the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) regular season champion, Mountaineers, season.

Brandeis' Lee Russso scored both goals to lead the Judges to the quarter-final victory. Russo scored his first notch of the game at the 9:15 mark. Robbie Lynch sent a ball across the box from the right sideline that Russo finished with his head. Russo scored again with his head, this time with less than 10 minutes remaining in the match. Ben Applefield sent a ball in from the end line that Russo finished home for a Brandeis 2-0 advantage.

The Mountaineers had an opportunity to tie the match with 15 minutes left. Noah Massucci (Craftsbury, Vt.) beat three defenders and attacked down the right flank. Massucci then lofted a ball over the Judges' defense that was just out of the reach of Nick Haggerty's foot.

SVC played a tremendous game on defense as they forced Brandeis to pull shots from distance. In the first half, it looked as the Judges would go up 2-0 before SVC senior defender, Greg Gilmore (Dover, NH) made a perfect slide tackle in the box, to keep the score at 1-0. Freshman goal keeper Connor Anniello made 12 saves for the Mountaineers.

Southern Vermont finished its season at 12-6-1. The Mountaineers graduate six seniors, Gilmore, Massucci, Haggerty, Brett Clatworthy, Sean Moore, and Connor Murray.