WALTHAM, Mass. – A golden goal 55 seconds into the second overtime period proved to be the difference this afternoon as the top-ranked Tufts University men's soccer team outlasted #18-ranked Brandeis, 1-0, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on the Judges' Gordon Field.

TEAM RECORDS

• Brandeis, 10-4-5, ranked #18 in Division III by the United Soccer Coaches
• Tufts, 16-1-3, ranked #1 in Division III by the United Soccer Coaches

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After both teams controlled play in their openers yesterday, they felt each other out during the first half.
• Brandeis senior Rainer Osselmann-Chai (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough Regional) put a shot on goal in the 11^th minute.
• The Jumbos got two of their shots on goal after corner kicks in the 12^th and 22^nd minutes, but Brandeis senior Tyler Correnti (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) made a pair of saves.
• Tufts would own a 9-4 advantage in shots in the opening 45 minutes.
• The visitors would press their advantage in the second half, when they outshot Brandeis, 8-2.
• Correnti was up to the task. He denied Xavier Canfin twice, in the 70^th minute and again in the 87^th.
• The Jumbos had a look to break the tie in the 81^st minute when Henry Brown got behind the defense and drew Correnti off his line, only to shoot into the outside left netting.
• In the first overtime session, Tufts had a flurry of shots blocked following a corner kick in the 93^rd minute, as the Brandeis defense sacrificed their bodies to keep the ball away before Correnti made another save in the 97^th minute on Mateo Bargagna.
• In the extra session, the Jumbos took advantage of a set piece to score the game-winning goal. After the ball was served into the box, Correnti denied James Gunn out of a scramble, but Brown was able to head the rebound inside the near right post for the game-winner at the 100:55 mark.
• "Tufts is always unbelievably competitive and organized and today they did a terrific job," Brandeis head coach Gabe Margolis said after the game. "For our guys, I couldn't be more proud of the effort they put in, the work they put in all weekend, all season long. Our guys competed all game long and went back and forth with another great team."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Tufts ended up with a 24-7 shooting advantage, including 9-2 in shots on goal.
• Correnti finished with a career-high eight saves in the losing effort.
• Brandeis closes its season with a 10-4-5 record, their highest win total since 2019 as they made their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017.
• "I didn't realize how much this group and this program would mean to me," said senior Nico Beninda (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township). "This program is going on an upward trajectory. I'm proud to have left the program where it is, and I know the guys behind me will continue to do the same."