Men's Soccer | 11/1/2008 5:48:50 PM

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PITTSFORD, NY - Sophomore midfielder Bret Dietz (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt) (Harrisburg, PA/Harrisburg) scored two goals to lead the RIT men's soccer team (7-9-1, 3-3-1 Empire 8) to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over host Nazareth (7-8-3, 3-3-1 Empire 8) in the Tigers 2008 season finale on Saturday afternoon.  The Tigers eliminated Nazareth from the Empire 8 playoff race.

After a scoreless first half, Dietz gave RIT a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute, as he took a feed from #Dan Holowaty (Strongsville, OH/St. Ignatius)# (Strongsville, OH/St. Ignatius) and ripped a shot past Nazareth keeper Ryan Platt for his fourth goal of the season.

Nazareth struck right back in the 56th minute, as a Nazareth player was hauled down in the RIT penalty area.  Rikesh Kotak calmly converted on the penalty kick to tie the game at 1.

Dietz struck back for RIT at the 71 minute mark, scoring his fifth goal of the season and third in the last two games to provide his second game-winning tally of the year.  Senior #Endri Kita (Albany, NY/Albany)# (Albany, NY/Albany) recorded his first collegiate assist on the goal.

The Tigers defense and goalkeeper Alan Smith (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) made the lead stand.  Smith was brilliant in net for RIT once again, stopping nine shots to pick up his fifth win of the year.

Nazareth out-shot RIT 16-5.  RIT had 20 fouls to Nazareth's 12. 

The Tigers outscored their opponents, 25-20 in 2008.