HAMILTON – Colgate opened up its season hosting nearby rival and No. 20 nationally ranked Syracuse on home soil Friday night in a men's soccer showdown. But it was the Orange who took home the victory as they defeated the Raiders 4-0.

"Although the result was disappointing, there were lots of positives we took away from the game," head coach Erik Ronning said. "We played very well for 60 minutes, and the goals they scored were all preventable. Syracuse is a very strong team, and we will use this as a learning experience and get better.

"Now we are focused on Hofstra and nothing else."

After the initial whistle blew to kick off the 2013 season, Colgate (0-1) came out pressuring the Orange (1-0) back four. Rookie Geinda Smith earned the Raiders' best chance of the half seven minutes in. Senior vice captain Nick Arpey sent a perfectly placed through ball to a running Smith, who went one-on-one with the keeper. Smith fired a shot low beating the goalie but missing the net by mere inches.

A couple minutes later the Orange answered with a chance of their own. Following a cleared corner kick by Colgate, Syracuse's Stefanos Stamoulacatos rounded the ball back up and sent it into the box. Emil Ekblom was on the back post, but his redirection off the cross went over the net.

The game remained scoreless until the 40th minute when Syracuse notched the go ahead goal. Jordan Murrell sent a long ball into the 18-yard box, where rookie Alex Halis was able to put a head on it, giving the Orange the 1-0 advantage.

Ethan Kutler gave the Raiders a great scoring chance right after halftime. Tanner Schilling dribbled the ball down the right-hand side of the field before finding an open Kutler at the top of the 18. Kutler one-timed it on net but the ball sailed just wide of the goal.

Colgate's defense came up big with 30 minutes to play, when there was a scramble in front of the net. The Orange found themselves with a two-on-one with Colgate's goalie, Liam Stapleton. Syracuse saw an opening and riffled a shot low, hitting the post but bouncing back into play. The Orange tried one-timing it back on net but Stapleton was there to make a brilliant save, keeping the match a one goal game.

In the 69th minute, Syracuse tacked on its second marker following another scramble in front of the net. Stapleton came out to make the initial save off an Orange shot but Noah Rhynhart was able to finish off the rebound.

The Raiders were unable to find the back of the net and Syracuse added two more in the remainder of the game taking the 4-0 victory.

Colgate is back in action Sunday when the team travels to Hofstra for a matchup with the Pride at 3:30 p.m.