It was a baptism by fire on Saturday and a redemptive bounce back on Sunday for the John Carroll men's soccer team.

The Blue Streaks competed over Labor Day weekend at the Brandeis Invitational, presented by the Park Lodge Group, in Waltham, Massachussets, just outside of Boston.

In the tournament opener, JCU played the host team to a 1-1 standoff in the first 45 minutes only to fall by a 3-1 score. The Judges, ranked #9 in the nation according to the preseason National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll, used a career day from senior All-America midfielder Josh Ocel to pull away for the win. Ocel had two goals and assisted on the third.

John Carroll tallied its goal when Jesse Marinaro headed home a free kick from rookue Hayden Parente in the 33rd minute. Liam McIntosh made three saves for the Blue Streaks.

In the Sunday match-up, JCU faced Western New England University in a neutral site affair. JCU was relentless in pursuit of its inaugural win of the year, scoring once in the first and two more in the second half to post a 3-0 victory.

Dalton Browsky scored his first goal of 2016 in the 24th miunute as he took a feed from Tim Delaney and beat the keeper with a well struck ball.

The score remained 1-0 until Browsky was taken down in the box in the 62nd minute. Jacob Lombardo successfuly cashed in on the penalty kick for a 2-0 lead.

The dagger was supplied in minute 79, as Justin Miller finished off a play that was actually started by a booming kick from McIntosh.

Western New England finished the match with more shots (20) than JCU (19), but McIntosh was up to the challenge, stopping a career-best nine shots for the shutout win.

John Carroll leaves Boston with a record of 1-1.