From Brandeis University Athletics

Recent Brandeis University graduate Michael Soboff of Framingham, Mass., has signed a professional contract to play soccer overseas in Israel. Soboff has joined Hakoah Maccabi Amidar Ramat Gan FC of the Israeli Liga Alef South Division.

"This is a terrific opportunity for Michael, and he really deserves it," said Brandeis head coach Michael Coven. "Michael continued to work hard after his final college season to reach his goal of playing professionally, and I am thrilled that was able to achieve it."

A native of Framingham and graduate of Newton South High School, Soboff joined the Judges in his junior season after playing at Rutgers University. In his two seasons playing forward and midfielder at Brandeis, the Judges compiled a 35-8-2 record and reached the NCAA Division III tournament both years. The Judges went to the Sweet 16 in 2013 and the Elite Eight in 2014. Brandeis ended the 2014 season ranked No. 6 in the NSCAA Division III national poll and No. 7 in the D3soccer.com poll.

In two campaigns with Brandeis, Soboff scored 13 goals and had 12 assists in 39 games. Nine of his 13 goals were game-winners, including in this year's NCAA tournament opener, a 3-0 win against Husson University. Soboff earned NSCAA All-New England honors as a senior, when he was also selected as the NSCAA National Division III Player of the Week in September.

Soboff is Brandeis's first professional men's soccer player since inaugural Hall of Famer Cleveland Lewis '78 played for Memphis in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He will be joined on Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan by another local Division III product, Luke Finkelstein of Wheaton College.