Brandeis shuts out Harlan in first round of UIL boys soccer playoffs

Aidan Williams scores two goals as Broncos advance to face Westlake next

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:22am

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Brandeis defeated Harlan 4-0 in the UIL Class 6A Division II bi-district playoff match at Farris Stadium in San Antonio. Senior forward Aidan Williams scored two goals to lead the Broncos, while junior goalkeeper Daniel Anaya recorded a clean sheet. Brandeis will face Austin Westlake in the next round.

Why it matters

This win marks a significant milestone for the Brandeis soccer program, as they look to build on their success from last season. The Broncos are aiming to make a deep playoff run after falling short in the postseason a year ago.

The details

Roughly 10 minutes into the match, Williams scored the opening goal after a deflection off the Harlan goalkeeper left him with an open net. The Broncos added to their lead in the first half when senior forward Sye Medellin found the back of the net. Williams scored again in the second half, and junior defender Aiden Garza added a fourth goal late in the game. Brandeis' defense, led by goalkeeper Daniel Anaya, kept Harlan scoreless throughout the night.

  • The match was played on Friday, March 20, 2026.
  • Brandeis will face Austin Westlake in the area round next Monday or Tuesday.

The players

Aidan Williams

A senior forward for Brandeis who scored two goals in the win.

Daniel Anaya

The junior goalkeeper for Brandeis who recorded a clean sheet.

Clifton Tierney

The head coach of the Brandeis soccer team, who is in his second year leading the program.

Sye Medellin

A senior forward for Brandeis who scored a goal in the first half.

Aiden Garza

A junior defender for Brandeis who scored the team's fourth goal late in the match.

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What they’re saying

“It was a surreal feeling.”

— Aidan Williams, senior forward

“[Williams] is one of those players where when he decides to take over a game, he's unstoppable.”

— Clifton Tierney, Brandeis head coach

“This is going to be something extremely special. And I'm glad I got to do it with this group. A lot of us remember what happened to us on the same field here last year at the exact same time. I told them before the game that preparation for this game started the second last year's game ended, and we knew that we wanted to be back here immediately.”

— Clifton Tierney, Brandeis head coach

“We knew they were going to come strong. We told all of our players to come in at 100%. Respect our opponents. We're still up 2-0, but anything can happen at 2-0.”

— Aidan Williams, senior forward

“Our defense was on top. [We] locked them up the whole time. Just a lot of communication out there.”

— Daniel Anaya, junior goalkeeper

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This win highlights the resilience and determination of the Brandeis soccer team, who are looking to build on their success from last season and make a deep playoff run. The Broncos' strong defensive performance and timely goals from their offensive leaders will be crucial as they prepare to face a tough Westlake squad in the next round.