SALEM, W.Va. (Sept. 12) – The Tigers were dealt a 5-1 loss by Cedarville in the team's Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) opener Saturday evening at Catalano Stadium.
 
The Salem International University men's soccer team falls to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in league play. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets improve to 2-0 in G-MAC action, 4-1 overall.
 
Cedarville got out to a 2-0 lead with goals in the 16th and 29th minutes, but the Tigers managed to slice the deficit in half when senior Javier Ruiz (Mexico City, Mexico/Universidad del Vallev de Mexico) roped a ball from inside the box past the Yellow Jacket goalkeeper to make the score 2-1 in the 32nd minute.
 
Ruiz had an opportunity to even the match in the 39th minute when he bended a shot from the far left area of the box towards the top-right of the goal. Despite what appeared to be a great shot, Cedarville goalkeeper Paulo Pinto made an even better save, deflecting the ball out of play to preserve the Yellow Jacket lead.
 
After taking a 2-1 lead into halftime, Cedarville added three more markers to its lead in the second half to earn the 5-1 win.
 
Senior goalkeeper Elliot Cook (Nottingham, England/South Nottinghamshire Academy) made seven saves for the Tigers, who were out-shot in the match by a 24-to-seven margin.
 
The Tigers continue with G-MAC play on Thursday, Sept. 17 when they head to Owensboro, Kentucky to take on Kentucky Wesleyan at 7 p.m.