WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University men's soccer team opened its 2026 season with a soggy but successful effort, defeating the visiting U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 2-0, on Gordon Field. The 18
th-ranked Judges scored twice in a four-minute span to earn the victory.
TEAM RECORDS
- Brandeis, 1-0.
- Coast Guard, 0-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Brandeis opened the scoring in the 29th minute with some nifty passing around the right side of the Coast Guard box. The ball eventually found senior Juan Vera (Caracas, Venezuela/Cypress Bay, Fla.), who played it forward for junior Charlie Culbert (Twickenham, England/Conestoga, Pa.). Culbert chipped it over the Bear keeper for his first goal of the season and of his career.
- The hosts doubled their lead in 33rd minute when senior Aidan Chuang (New York, N.Y./Milton Acad.) stepped in front of a Coast Guard pass deep in the offensive zone and walked in on net, firing it into the right side. The goal was his first of the year and the fourth of his career.
- The offenses were quiet the rest of the way, with Brandeis taking the only four shots in the final 60 minutes of action.
- The Judges finished with an 8-1 advantage in shots and 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
- Brandeis senior goalkeeper Benny Shin (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) went untested in his first career start in net, while Coast Guard's Connor Hickey had four stops in the losing effort.
UP NEXT
- The Judges welcome Hobart College to Waltham on Friday evening at 6 p.m.