The University of Rochester men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to 12th ranked Brandeis University on Sunday in a UAA conference matchup at Fauver Stadium.
 
Rochester (6-4-5, 1-2-3 UAA) got its goal in the 35th minute from sophomore Samuel Cekala while Brandeis (15-2-1, 5-1 UAA) received scores from Josh Berg and Kyle Robinson to win its third straight contest and clinch the conference title and the UAA's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
Visiting Brandeis was able to capitalize on the first legitimate scoring chance of the contest, converting a nice play in the penalty area in the 29th minute.  Joshua Handler dribbled the ball towards the UR left endline and then sent a pass in front to Berg who shot from 6 yards out found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
 
Rochester would answer back just before the 36 minute mark with a goal from sophomore Samuel Cekala.  The play began when a Brandeis foul gave UR a free kick from about 30 yards out.  Tyler Buck took the kick and landed it right on target where Judges' keeper Ben Woodhouse made the save, but Cekala was in the right place and slammed in the rebound for a 1-1 tie score.
 

At the half, shots were 2-2 with UR holding a 3-2 edge in corners.
 
In the second half, the physical play from the first half carried over with four second half yellow cards being issued to bring the games total to six.
 
At 52:39, Rochester earned a free kick half a yard outside the 18 and turned that chance into a Jeffrey Fafinski shot that sailed high of the crossbar.
 
In the 70th minute, the second of back-to-back corners by Zachary Kanaley was played out back to Buck who blasted a hard open shot that went high as well.
 
Brandeis' Robinson would then score the winner at 78:37 on a header at the back post from a corner kick service by junior Josh Ocel.

Overall, Rochester would hold the advantage on the stat sheet, earning six corners to Brandeis' five and holding an 8-5 advantage in shots.  Redd Brown made one save in goal for UR while Woodhouse made five stops for the Judges.
 
The game wraps up Rochester's home slate of games this season and goes down as the Yellowjackets' only loss at Fauver Stadium in 2015.  UR will travel to Emory University on Saturday for the season finale while Brandeis closes the regular season with a Saturday contest hosting NYU.