WALTHAM, Mass. – Six members of the Brandeis University men's soccer team were recognized by the University Athletic Association as 2024 All-UAA selections. Junior midfielder Nico Beninda of Monroe Township, New Jersey, was named to the All-UAA First Team, while senior defender Andres Gonzalez of Caracas, Venezuela, senior forward Eli Mones of Portland, Oregon and sophomore forward Maddox Yu of Ridgefield, Connecticut, were second-team selections. Junior midfielder Rainer Osselmann-Chai of Acton, Massachusetts, and junior forward Elan Romo of Weston, Florida, were named honorable mention.

Beninda led the Judges in scoring this season with five goals and six assists for 18 points. He was fourth in the UAA in points third in assists and eighth in goals. In UAA play, he tallied a goal and four assists, one shy of the lead in helpers in conference games. Beninda had two assists in a 2-1 win over Carnegie Mellon, one in a 3-2 win over Rochester and one in a 3-2 win over Rochester. His UAA goal was an equalizer in a 2-1 victory at Case Western Reserve. Beninda also led the Judges in total shots (33) and shots on goal (17). This is his first All-UAA selection.

Gonzalez was honored by the UAA coaches for the third time in his career, having earned honorable mention as a first-year and second-team honors as a junior. Gonzalez was a center back on the squad that was fifth in the league in goals against (19) and goals-against average (1.19). His lone goal of the season was a game-winner in the team's 3-2 victory over Rochester, a header off a corner in the 38^th minute.

Mones, a walk-on at forward, played just nine games and started four, but he scored three goals in the those contests, all against UAA foes. Two those goals were game-winners – in the 63rrd minute of a 2-1 win over Carnegie Mellon, just 11 seconds after the Tartans had equalized, and in the 88^th minute of a 1-0 win over Washington University. Mones also scored in the Judges' 3-2 loss to Chicago. Mones' only other career goal was an overtime winner against Emory as a first-year.

Yu was Brandeis's third-leading scorer, with three goals and an assist this season. He also scored all of his goals in conference play, finding the back of the net against Chicago in a 3-2 loss, against Rochester in a 3-2 win, and against Case Western Reserve. Against the Spartans, he scored the game-winner in the 84^th minute off a rebound.

Osselmann-Chai has been honored by the UAA twice before. He was the conference Rookie of the Year and an All-UAA honorable mention as a first-year  and second-team honors as a sophomore. This season, he produced two goals and two assists as the team's primary set-piece taker. He scored a penalty kick goal in a 3-1 non-conference win against Eastern Connecticut State, and added a goal against MIT in non-league play. His assists came in a non-conference draw with Union on a goal in the 88^th minute, and in the 63^rd minute of a UAA win over NYU to close out the season.

Romo earns his first All-UAA accolade. He also had two goals and two assists on the season, with three of those four markers coming in conference play. He scored the team's first goal in the 2-1 win over Carnegie Mellon, the second goal in the 3-2 win over Rochester, and assisted the game-winner in a 2-1 win over Case Western Reserve.

The Brandeis University men's soccer team finished the 2024 season with a 9-5-2 record, 5-2 in the UAA, in head coach Gabe Margolis's seventh season. The team's record was its best since 2019, as they finished one point behind conference champion Emory in second place. The Judges return all but three players who started a majority of their games.

Beninda is a 2022 graduate of Monroe Township High School.

Gonzalez is a 2021 graduate of Divine Savior Academy (Fla.).

Mones is a 2021 graduate of Grant High School.

Yu is a 2023 graduate of Ridgefield High School.

Osselmann-Chai is a 2022 graduate of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School.

Romo is a 2022 graduate of Cypress Bay High School

For more information on Brandeis University men's soccer, please visit our home page at https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/msoc.
 
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