GREENVILLE, Pa. – Dominic Walker (Kent, Ohio/Field) netted a pair of goals in his first collegiate soccer game, but it wasn't enough for the Thiel Tomcats, who suffered an 8-3 season-opening loss to the Franciscan University of Steubenville Barons at Alumni Stadium Friday night.
 
Both of Walker's goals occurred in the first half, and both forced a tie in the game. Walker's second goal, scored late in the first half, sent the Tomcats to the locker room with the score tied 2-2 at halftime.
 
Franciscan scored a pair of goals less than a minute apart early in the second half to take a 4-2 lead, and after a long lightning delay, the Barons went on to score four more unanswered goals to earn the non-conference victory.
 
Leo Herrmann led Franciscan with four goals and an assist.
 
Freshman Jacob Leaman (Etters, Pa./Red Land) made eight saves for the Tomcats. Walker scored two goals and added an assist for the Tomcats while Zachary Oliver (Bridgeport, Ohio/St. Clairsville) notched a pair of assists and Jordan Lilley (Jamestown, Ohio/Greeneview) scored one goal.
 
The Tomcats (0-1) will return to action Saturday when they host the Penn State Altoona Lions at Alumni Stadium. The game is slated to begin at noon.