This Week in Sports (08/30/15-09/05/15)

Illustration by Jordyn Carias

Women’s Volleyball

The RIT volleyball team opened the 2015 season with a resounding three-set win over host Keuka College at the Keuka Recreation Center on Tuesday evening. RIT took the game 25-20, 25-11 and 25-13.

Sarah Szybist, a 2014 AVCA Third Team All-American and 2013 honorable mention selection, picked up right where she left off last season, leading the squad with 15 kills, while hitting .345. She surpassed the 1,300-kill plateau for her illustrious career. She also led the squad with eight digs and added three service aces.

"I was really happy with how we played tonight, as we were able to get a lot of people on the court and we were able to maintain a strong level of play," RIT head coach Jim Lodes told RIT Athletics. "With the great serving team that Keuka is I thought our ball control and serve receive was very effective."

First year players Sara Taylor, Liz Wunder, Aleah Chinn, and Erin Parkinson made their collegiate debuts.

The Tigers have now improved to a 19-1 all-time record against the Storm.

RIT is right back in action this weekend, travelling to Gettysburg College for the 2015 Battlefield Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers play Mt. St. Mary at 5 p.m. and McDaniel at 7 p.m. on Friday and then they take on Gallaudet Saturday at 10 a.m. and York (Pa.) at noon on Saturday.

Women’s Soccer

Senior Elizabeth May scored the goal that tied the game in the 85th minute, as the RIT women's soccer team held Nazareth to a 1-1 draw in the season-opening non-conference battle at the Golden Flyer Stadium on Tuesday evening. May's first goal of the season came off of a Caitlyn Daly pass into the box, as the shot rocketed to the Nazareth goalkeeper's left.

"We learned a lot about ourselves, and that's important in an early game," RIT head coach Liz Masterson told RIT Athletics. "I knew that we were evenly matched, so we are right where we should be, and we need to keep getting better."

Late in the first half, the Tigers’ offense got going. RIT took eight first half shots, none better than a point blank opportunity by freshman Monique Polanco, who had the goalkeeper beat but had her goal saved by Nazareth defender Sarah Conroy.

"It's hard to know what you're going to get from a freshman," Masterson said. "We knew that (Monique) was skilled, so it was nice to get her to be a spark plug for us."

The second half belonged to the Golden Flyers who turned up the pressure on the Tigers’ defense with a number of opportunities on goal. The Tigers’ goalkeeper Rogers had to make three saves in 74 minutes of play.

After a corner kick, Nazareth was able to break the deadlock, as Jaclyn Stryker scored an unassisted goal. Rogers, on the other hand was unable to navigate through the traffic that had settled in her penalty area after the first shot was blocked by a defender.

Once again, the Tigers turned up the pressure on offense, getting a number of shots on goal, before May got the goal with minutes left in regulation time and tied the game in the process.

"I knew in the last 10 minutes of regulation that we were pressing,"Masterson said. "We just needed to get one clean look, make the goalkeeper make a good save. May was able to make a nice play and have a composed finish."

Neither team could break through for the game-winner in overtime, despite numerous opportunities to do so.

With the draw, RIT has had an unbeaten result in the last three meetings with Nazareth. The Tigers won the last two meetings coming into the game tonight.

The women will head to the Tiger Stadium for the next few matches, starting with a match versus Allegheny in the Rachael Miller Tournament on Friday, Sept. 5. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m.

Men’s Soccer

The RIT men's soccer team opened the 2015 season with a tough 2-1 loss to Rowan University on a sunny Tuesday afternoon at the Tiger Stadium. Rowan's Shane Kohler scored the game winner with one second remaining in regulation time.

Freshman Gene Sicoli 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.

Rowan had the lion’s share of shots, outweighing RIT 19-9. Mark Reeves got the start in goal for RIT, making two saves while freshman Peter Cinibulk played the final 35 minutes and made three saves.

RIT broke the deadlock with Sicoli's first collegiate goal in the 25th minute. This after Rowan committed a foul right at the top of their penalty area after a great run by Raul Silva. Sicoli stepped up and fired a bending shot around the Rowan wall and into the back of the net, giving RIT the lead.

In the 45th minute. Kohler fired a shot into the RIT penalty box that Sjaastad managed to guide into the RIT net, tying the score at 1-1.

With time winding down, Rowan were able to get into the RIT penalty area. Vinny Ignatowicz had a shot that was saved. Kevin Primich fired a rebound shot that fell to Kohler, who managed to scramble the ball across the goal line just before the final whistle.

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.