Men's Soccer | 10/3/2010 3:49:31 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT (5-4-3, 0-1-2 E8) men's soccer team played to a 2-2 tie versus Utica College (7-2-1, 1-1-1 E8) in Empire 8 action on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers were unable to hold a two-goal lead in the second half, tying their second straight game.

RIT took a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on senior Bret Dietz (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt)'s first goal of the season. He began the play with a long ball out into space on the flank that Justin Dambra (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) ran onto. Dambra dribbled into the Utica penalty area and sent a pass back into the goal mouth that Dietz ran onto and scored with a low shot into the right corner.

After haltime, the Tigers took a 2-0 lead on Dan Holowaty (Strongsville, OH/St. Ignatius)'s fourth goal of the season. Senior midfielder Dom Colaprete (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) played a ball into the box. Mike Allocco (Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills) re-directed a shot with a header that was saved by Utica keeper Anthony Caruso. The rebound came to Holowaty who cleaned up the loose ball with a shot into the upper corner.

Utica made it a one-goal game in the 59th minute on a goal by Jonathon Peterson. Zach Wheeler had the assist as he heaved a long throw into the area that Peterson bicycled into the net to make it 2-1.

In the 83rd minute the Pioneers were able to score the equallizer on a goal by Jonathon Wood. He tapped in a rebound off a shot from Shane Wittemann to tie the game at 2-2.

The Pioneers had a chance to take the lead in the 90th minute on a great give-and-go by Wood and Peterson. Peterson played a ball to Wood who broke in on RIT keeper Sean Conway (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park). Peterson fired a low shot that Conway sprawled for, making the diving save to keep the game tied.

Neither team generated much offense in the overtime sessions until the final seconds of the second overtime. RIT earned a corner kick inside the final 20 seconds. Jake Yates (Waynesburg, PA/Waynesburg) fired an in-swinger into the box. Freshman Andy Fleckenstein (Farmington, NY/Victor) got a head on the ball but his shot went just wide of the net as time expired.

The Tigers held an 18-14 advantage in shots. Utica took six corner kicks to five for RIT. RIT's Sean Conway (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) finished the game with four saves for the Tigers, and Anthony Caruso made foour saves for the Pioneers.

RIT is off until Friday, October 8 when they face St. John Fisher College. Game time at Growney Stadium is at 7 pm.