Sophomore Ethan Wirtschafter and the Bears offense were shutout by Brandeis. (Dania Backal | Student Life)

The Washington University men’s soccer team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Brandeis University on Oct. 11 after conceding a goal in the 88th minute. Despite dominating possession and peppering the Judges with shots throughout the game, the Bears were undone by a costly defensive lapse. The loss drops WashU to 0-2 in University Athletic Association (UAA) play, leaving them searching for their first conference win as they head back home.

From the opening whistle, WashU set the tempo, keeping Brandeis pinned in its own half. The Bears moved the ball with intent, pressing the attack and creating early opportunities to score. By halftime, WashU had taken eight shots to Brandeis’ four, with three on goal, forcing saves by Brandeis goalkeeper Quintin Wrabley. But as promising as their buildups looked, the finishing touch proved elusive, and the game remained scoreless at the break.

The second half followed the same script, with WashU continuing to apply pressure. The Bears racked up 21 shots by the end of the match, earning a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks, but Brandeis’ goalkeeper stood tall, denying every attempt that came his way. 

Then came the gut punch. In the 88th minute, Brandeis launched one of its few meaningful attacks of the game. A well-placed cross from the right side found Brandeis forward Eli Mones in the box, who calmly tapped it past the WashU defense for the game’s only goal — and the Judges’ only shot on target. Stunned and with little time left, the Bears were unable to mount a response before the final whistle.

It was a frustrating end for WashU, who had controlled nearly every aspect of the game except the scoreline. 

“The UAA is a good conference, every game is tough. But we have great belief in what we can still accomplish as a group. The only way to get past a couple of tough results is to continue working hard with complete confidence and belief in our team,” head coach Andrew Bordelon said.

The Bears, now 6-4-1 overall and 0-2 in UAA play, know there’s little time to dwell on the loss. They’ll return to St. Louis for their first UAA home game on Oct. 19, when they’ll host New York University. WashU has thrived at home this year, boasting a 5-0 record, and they hope to carry that same energy into their upcoming conference matches.

With the competitive nature of the UAA, every result matters. The Bears must be sharp and focused when they take on NYU, as they look to turn things around and earn their first conference win. As Bordelon wrote, “It’s all about us! It doesn’t matter who the opposition is; it is always about us and how we perform as a unit for 90 minutes.

This article was updated at 4:15 PM on October 15 to include quotes from Andrew Bordelon.