Marcy, NY – Nick Escalante (Whittier, CA) found the back of the net for his team-leading 13th goal this season but the men's soccer team was unable to overcome a two-goal deficit, falling 3-1 to host SUNY Institute of Technology Friday evening. The win improves the Wildcats to 11-1-1, while the Kangaroos fall to 8-8.

The hosts, who are ranked seventh in the NCAA Division III East region, got on the board less than 10 minutes into the contest when Nicholas McBride found Josh Kimber for the score. The Wildcats held a 10-6 shots edge and took a 1-0 lead into intermission.

SUNYIT was quick to strike again out of break taking a 2-0 lead when Kimber assisted a Bazo Coulibaly marker in the 52nd minute. The Roos continued to press and brought the deficit within one when Escalante recorded an unassisted score, his 13th of the season at the 61:56 mark to make it 2-1.

SUNY Canton had three shot attempts, one by Escalante that was saved by Wildcat keeper Malick Faye, and two others by Abdulai Jagana (Bronx, NY) and Hunter Mowery (Elizabethtown, NY) that both sailed high. The Roos were unable to find the equalizer and SUNYIT tacked on a late insurance goal by Francesco Tine for the 3-1 final.

Evan Drew (Elizabethtown, NY) stopped six shots in net for the Roos, while Faye made five saves for the Wildcats.

The men's soccer team is back in action Wednesday when it hosts Morrisville State beginning at 7:00 p.m.