SOCCER TEAMS FALL IN OPENING DAY AT MARIETTA COLLEGE CLASSIC

MARIETTA, Ohio – The Juniata College men's and women's soccer teams opened their 2007 campaigns on the road at the Marietta College Classic in Marietta, Ohio, with both teams dropping close matches in Saturday's opening games. The women's team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to SUNY Brockport, while the men's squad had a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Hiram College.

In the women's game, Brockport logged the game's only offense in the sixth minute when Megan McGregor put a shot past Eagle keeper Lisa Russo (Haskell, N.J./Lakeland).

The Eagles kept up with Brockport offensively, but were unable to solve Golden Eagle keeper Stephanie Kowell. Brockport outshot Juniata by a slim 14-12 margin, with the two teams each earning two corner kicks. Brockport was whistled for offsides seven times during the match. Russo recorded eight saves in the Juniata goal, while Kowell finished with seven saves.

The Golden Eagles entered the game as the defending State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champions, and reached the round of 32 in last season's NCAA tournament. Juniata will face Rochester (Mich.) in Sunday's consolation game of the women's tournament.

The men's team allowed Hiram College to build a 4-0 lead, including a 2-0 advantage at halftime, before getting on the board in the 65^th minute on a goal by Rio Tomlin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks). Bryan Hess (Hanover, Pa./South Western) rounded out the Eagle scoring with his unassisted goal in the 84^th minute, cutting the margin to 4-2, but the Eagles would draw no closer.

Freshman Joe Kohler (Vienna, Va./James Madison) logged seven saves during the match. Hiram outshot Juniata 17-11, and held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The men will face the host squad from Marietta College in the Sunday's men's tournament consolation game. 

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