| 12/30/2003 1:46:19 PM

CORTLAND, NY -- The RIT men's soccer team was defeated by Cortland State 1-0 on Friday evening in the first game of the Red Dragon Classic. The Tigers came into the game ranked 22nd in the latest NSCAA/Adidas NCAA Division III poll and will face Penn State-Altoona on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The games' lone goal came in the first half by Cortland. Matt Daum scored on a pass from Chad Becker on the left side of the box and tucked a shot inside the right post. The play developed when RIT keeper Nate Andrews (Rochester, NY) came off his line to play a loose ball. However, Becker made a sliding pass to an unmarked Daum who put the ball into the net.

RIT had their best scoring chance late in the first half. With 7:38 remaining RIT's Michael Lawson (Wall, NJ)took a ball through the middle at the top of the box. Cortland goalie Ross Morelli charged off his line and made a save from point blank range preserving the lead for the Red Dragons.<>< cortland="" outshot="" rit="" 15-6="" on="" the="" game="" and="" had="" the="" better="" of="" the="" scoring="" chances="" in="" the="" second="" half.="" andrews="" finshed="" the="" game="" with="" four="" saves="" for="" rit.="" the="" tigers="" fall="" to="" 2-1="" on="" the="" season.="">