| 11/6/2004 5:44:12 PM

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PITTSFORD, NY - Junior midfielder Michael Lawson (Wall, NJ/Wall) (Wall, NJ/Wall) converted on a penalty kick 50 seconds into the second overtime to give RIT a dramatic, 1-0 win over St. John Fisher College this afternoon at Growney Stadium in the Empire 8 Championship.  With the win, RIT earned an automatic berth into the 2004 NCAA Tournament, with the complete field announced on Sunday, November 7th.

Lawson was hauled down in the penalty area by a St. John Fisher defender, creating the game-winning shot.

Both teams had their share of chances in regulation, but could not convert any into goals.  The game was played in a stifling 30 mph wind.

RIT out-shot St. John Fisher 18-8, including 9-1 in the second half.  Nate Andrews (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) made five saves to record the shut-out.  Pete Schatz stopped four shots for the Cardinals.

The Tigers became the second consecutive #4 seed to win the Empire 8 Championship.  Last season Alfred University did just that, defeating Ithaca and Nazareth en route to a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

This will be the 14th NCAA Tournament appearance in the 35-year history of the program, and third under head coach Bill Garno. The last time the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament was in 2001, where they made it to the second round.

RIT's best finish in the NCAA Tournament was in 1988, when the Tigers fell in the championship game to UC-San Diego.

RIT (9-7-1) will await word to see who and where they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament.  The bids will be announced on Sunday evening.