PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – The Indiana Tech men's soccer team dropped their season opener to Shawnee State University (Ohio), 4-2, on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Warriors found themselves down early after Martyn Sayer blasted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Adam Viviano in the sixth minute. Tech would answer nine minutes later however, when sophomore defenseman Brandon Dinsmore fired off a free kick that escaped Brandon Pfeiffer to knot it up at one.
 
Freshman forward Brennan Cochran would give the Black and Orange the lead with just under 11 minutes to go in the first half when he took a pass from Nathan Waits and scorched it past the Bears keeper.
 
The second half was not as kind to the visitors though, as the Bears would score two goals just before the 70th minute to take a 3-2 lead. Viviano initially saved the go-ahead goal, but it rolled into the back of the net. Caspar Nolte would add his second goal of the game with just over six minutes left to close the door on the Warriors.
 
"It was a disappointing second half as we were managing things well given the situation,
 said Indiana Tech head coach David Bokhart. "Then a mental mistake on the part of three or four guys for the second goal sent us into a spiral. We always will be challenged, especially on the road in unfamiliar environments, and we did not respond to that challenge today."
 
Cochran led the Warriors in shots (four) and shots on goal (two), while senior Zachary St. Aubin finished with three shots in all. Viviano finished the match with five saves.
 
Indiana Tech (0-1-0) returns to the pitch on Sept. 2 when they welcome Trinity Christian College (Ill.) to Warriors Athletic Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and live stats will be available at IndianaTechWarriors.com.