| 8/31/2008 2:36:03 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought game to #18 Hobart College 2-1 in Sunday action at the Doug May Memorial Soccer Classic. The loss drops RIT to 1-1-0 on the season while Hobart improves to 2-0-0.

Dan Riso scored both Hobart goals, including the game-winner in the 88th minute off a free kick. Clancy Purcell, this year's Most Valuable Player, assisted on both goals and had an assist in all three Hobart goals.

Riso gave the Statesmen a 1-0 lead with a little over 12 minutes remaining in the half. Clancy Purcell hit a low drive off a corner kick that Riso ran onto. His diving header found the lower left corner for his first tally of the season.

RIT had their share of scoring chances in the first half. In the 14th minute the Tigers built up a nice run. Jeff Diaz (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) (Brentwood, NY) made a run down the left side. Bobby Bullard (Bergen, NY/Byron-Bergen) (Bergen, NY/Byron-Bergen) ran with him creating a 2-v-1 situation. Diaz served a ball just out of Bullard's reach. He got control and played it back to Allen Nicholson (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg Area) (Lewisburg, PA) who centered it to Dan Holowaty (Strongsville, OH/St. Ignatius) (Strongsville, OH/St. Ignatius). But, he didn't get a lot on the shot and Pete Van Dellon made the stop.

With 19 minutes remaining until halftime Diaz found Bullard again on a run. He got to the end-line, maneuvering past several defenders and centered a ball the found Jake Yates (Waynesburg, PA/Waynesburg) (Waynesburg, PA). This time Yates fired a shot but was blocled off the line by a Hobart defender.

RIT equalized in the 68t minute off a free kick. Sophomore Bret Dietz (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt)  (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt) took a free kick from 35-yards out. Bobby Bullard (Bergen, NY/Byron-Bergen) gathered the loose ball and fired a shot past Van Dellon for his third goal of the weekend and more importantly, tying the score at 1-1.

The Tigers will look to rebound next Saturday when they host Hamilton College on RIT Field. Kickoff is 4 pm.

2008 Doug May Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team
Raymond Touchstone - Nazareth
Ryan Platt - Nazareth
Jeff Diaz (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) - RIT
Bobby Bullard (Bergen, NY/Byron-Bergen) - RIT
Dan Riso - Hobart

Most Outstanding Defender: Pete Van Dellon - Hobart
Most Outstanding Forward: Justin Stevens - Nazareth
Most Valuable Player: Clancy Purcell - Hobart