ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's soccer team opened the 2015 season with a tough 2-1 loss to Rowan University on a warm, sunny Tuesday afternoon from Tiger Stadium. Rowan's Shane Kohler scored the game winner with one second remaining in regulation.  
 
Freshman Gene Sicoli (Commack, NY/Commack) scored his first collegiate goal for the Tigers, while Kohler led the Profs with a goal and an assist. Will Sjaastad tallied the first Rowan goal.
 
Shots were 19-9 in favor of Rowan, who fired four corner kicks to three for RIT. Kyle Dennis got the win in net for Rowan, making four saves. Mark Reeves (Macedon, NY/Palmyra-Macedon) got the start for RIT, making two saves. Freshman Peter Cinibulk (Bellbrook, OH/Bellbrook) played the final 34:09 and made three saves.
 
RIT had a decent chance early in the first half when Anthony DeFeo (Rochester, NY /Hilton) played Sicoli out wide with a nice pass. Sicoli gathered, but fired his shot wide.

Rowan had two good shots in the 13th minute on shots from Doherty and Kohler. Doherty's shot was blocked by the RIT defense, while Kohler hit his shot wide.

RIT broke the scoreless deadlock on Sicoli's first collegiate goal in the 25th minute. Rowan committed a foul right at the top of its penalty area after a great run by Raul Silva (San Diego, CA/Madison). Sicoli stepped up and fired a bending shot around the Rowan wall and into the back of the net, giving RIT a 1-0 lead.

With about 17 minutes to play in the half, Rowan had a free kick from 25 yards out, but Enzo Scala's shot went well wide of the net.

Sjaastad tied the score at 1-1 with his goal in the 45th minute. Kohler fired a shot into the RIT penalty box that Sjaastad redirected the shot with his into the RIT net, tying the score at 1-1.

Rowan came out with a flurry in the opening moments of the second half. Travis Ward had a shot from inside the RIT penalty box ring off the cross bar. The rebound was blocked by a RIT defender and out of play.

Geno Rocco (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) had a good run down the Rowan flank early in the second half. He cut in field into Rowan penalty box, but a defender blocked his shot and Dennis gobbled the rebound up.

With just over 12 minutes to play in regulation, RIT generated a great scoring chance. Adam Bem (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) drove down the flank. He was able to get by his defender and fired a shot that appeared to be headed for the far post, but Dennis made a sprawling save preserving the 1-1 tie. Rocco had s hot off the rebound, but a Rowan defender saved the ball off the line.

With time winding down, Rowan was able to get clear and into the RIT penalty area. Vinny Ignatowicz had shot that was saved. Kevin Primich fired a rebound shot that ricocheted to Kohler who toed a shot into the net off the scramble just before the final horn sounded.

RIT returns to action on Saturday, September 5 when the Tigers host King's College in the opening game of the 2015 Doug May Memorial Tournament at 11 a.m. at Tiger Stadium.