GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's soccer team opened their 2017 season Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium with a 1-0 loss to the Barons of Franciscan University.
 
Franciscan threatened in the early going with consecutive corner kicks but Thiel was able to get out of both attempts unscathed. In the 22^nd minute Thiel forward Zachary Oliver (Bridgeport, Ohio/St. Clairsville) provided the Tomcats' closest attempt. Oliver's shot attempt was deflected by the Baron goalkeeper, which Oliver recovered, then placed just wide of the net.
 
The game remained tied until Thiel committed a foul in the box to give the Barons a penalty kick. Franciscan's Leo Herrmann buried the penalty kick in the left corner out of the reach of goalkeeper Christian Conrad (Barberton, Ohio/Central Catholic) to give the Barons a 1-0 advantage at the 28:50 mark. This would be the only blemish on Conrad's otherwise clean sheet.
 
The Tomcats looked to answer before the end of the first half as John Thiel (Pickerington, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) received a pass deep in Franciscan territory and ripped a shot just wide of the net. The Tomcats would go into the half down 1-0.
 
Baron goalkeeper Thomas Dosedel kept a shutout in the second half as he was able to fend off all 10 shots by the Tomcats.
 
Thiel drew two late free kicks in Franciscan territory which which pushed a swarm of Tomcats into the box but the Baron defense were able to secure possession.  
 
Thiel pressed until the final seconds of the half to try and score an equalizer but were unsuccessful.
 
Oliver led the Tomcats in shots and shots on goal with three and two, respectively. Conrad allowed just the one penalty kick goal and came up with a game-high four saves.
 
The Tomcats fall to 0-1 on the year and will go on to face Pitt-Bradford in a non-conference matchup at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 5.