HAMILTON – The Colgate men's soccer team hosted CNY rival Syracuse here Tuesday night in a rain-soaked nonconference tilt.
 
The Raiders ultimately fell to the Orange 2-0 but not without some quality chances on net.
 
Aram Ouligian, Zach Tamen and Ryan Bellavance all posted great opportunities on frame for Colgate. Ouligian nearly put Colgate in front following a driven header off a Kutler corner kick midway through the first half. An SU player was just able to step in and block the shot away though to keep the game scoreless at the time.
 
Syracuse broke the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining in the opening period. Oyvind Alseth sent a cross into the back of the box, where Chris Nanco collected it. The junior then tried his luck on frame but was denied by Colgate's Ricky Brown with a brilliant save. Unfortunately, the ball fell back at the foot of Nanco where he finished it off into the opposite corner. 
 
In the closing minutes of the opening period the Raiders turned up their offensive pressure with Tamen and Bellavance notching back-to-back scoring chances. Off another Colgate corner kick, Tamen collected the loose ball and fired a driven shot on target. Again, the Syracuse defense came up with a key block to deny the Raiders the back of the net.
 
Almost immediately following that chance, the Raiders saw first-year Ryan Bellavance try his luck on a volley inside the box. His attempt, however, sailed just high over the crossbar.
 
After the break, Colgate continued to look for the equalizer but each time the Orange defense came up with the play.
 
Ethan Kutler fired off a solid chance early in the second half but again Syracuse stepped in to block it away.
 
The Orange increased their edge to 2-0 in the 78th minute, creating a gap for the Raiders.  
 
Despite some final attempts and a great look from Benji Geisler in the closing minutes that sailed just high, the Raiders were unable to register the needed goals.
 
Colgate shifts back into Patriot League play on Saturday when the Raiders travel to Lehigh. That contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Ulrich Sports Complex. Live stats and video are available at the start.

BOTTOM LINE
• Syracuse 2, Colgate 0

WON-LOST RECORDS
• Syracuse improves to 6-2-1 on the year
• Colgate slides to 4-3-1

KEY RAIDER INFO
• Geisler notched three shots in the contest to lead the Raiders.
• Five other Colgate players recorded one shot each.
• Brown finished with four saves.

FACTS & FIGURES
• The Orange slightly outshot the Raiders 11-8, after the Raiders had recorded five shots to Syracuse's three in the opening period.
• Colgate recorded the edge on corner kicks at 7-5.
• Colgate's Brown notched four saves in the contest, pushing his season total to 31.
• It was a clean game overall with neither team issued a card.
 
FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate Head Coach Erik Ronning: (on the game) "All we can do is learn from the mistakes we made and get ready for a very strong Lehigh team and a Patriot League game this Saturday in Bethlehem."
 
(on if it's nice having such a quick turnaround between games) "Yes. We are in a little bit of a rhythm now playing Tuesday, Saturday and Wednesday, Saturday so I think we will be able to build a little bit of continuity moving forward. We will take a well-deserved day off tomorrow and recharge the batteries emotionally and physically to get back to work on Thursday."
 
(on having a strong road record so far on the season) "We haven't been on the road in a little while. We've had a four-game homestand and it will be nice to get out there on the road with the guys and just keep on getting better. We're looking forward to it."

UP NEXT
• The Raiders next travel to Patriot League foe Lehigh on Saturday.
• The match is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
• Colgate heads into the contest with a league record of 1-0-0, while the Mountain Hawks sit at 0-1-0 after their loss to Holy Cross on Saturday.
• Live stats and video will be available at the start.

GAME ARCHIVE