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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's soccer team (9-7-2, 2-4-1 Empire 8) was eliminated from Empire 8 postseason consideration after falling to Nazareth College 2-1 in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday afternoon.

Mark Daly broke a 1-1 tie with 15 seconds left in regulation, as he slammed in a rebound off a shot by Rob Faulds.  The Golden Flyers scored off a set piece after a RIT foul.

 

Nazareth clinched a spot in the 2007 Empire 8 Tournament with the win.

Nazareth played the final 32:20 of regulation and overtime without leading scorer Justin Stevens, who was ejected from the contest after receiving his second yellow card of the match.

 

Stevens gave Nazareth a 1-0 lead just a few minutes earlier, as he slammed home a rebound in front of the Tiger goal after the Golden Flyers slammed two shots toward the Tiger net. The goal was Stevens' fourth of the season.

 

Soon after Stevens received the second yellow card, RIT picked up its intensity and tied the game.

 

Freshman Dan Holowaty (Strongsville, OH/St. Ignatious) received a perfect cross from Chuck Marion (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) and headed the ball past Nazareth goalkeeper Trey Barresi to tie the game at 1.  The goal was Holowaty's sixth of the year and team-leading 18th point. 

Marion recorded his 40th career point, becoming the 22nd player in the history of the RIT men's soccer program to reach that milestone.

Sensing this was, essentially an elimination game, both teams came out and played a very exciting, entertaining first half, despite neither squad finding the back of the net.

 

Nazareth's Phillip Holmberg had the best chance of the first half, as his header midway through the first half off of a set piece bounced off both the crossbar and RIT goalkeeper Alan Smith (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor).

 

RIT's Chris Somers (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) had RIT's best chance with 20 seconds left in the half, as his chip shot inside the box sailed just over the net.

 

Play was physical, as 23 fouls and four yellow cards were handed out by the officiating crew. Both teams had nine shots.

Overall, each team received four cards.  Nazareth out-shot RIT 18-17.  Nazareth had 19 fouls to RIT's 18.

 

Barresi made four saves to pick up the win, while Smith stopped seven shots in defeat for RIT.

 

The Tigers will await a possible ECAC postseason bid.