Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's soccer team dropped their season opener on Friday to the visiting Bard College Raptors by a 3-1 margin at the Soccer/Lax Complex. With the defeat the Fighting Tigers drop to 0-1 to open the year while the Raptors start 1-0.

The Orange & Black collided with the Raptors in their home opener and it there was a somber moment as the pre-game festivities revolving around Douglas Alvarez, a soccer Cobleskill player who passed away last spring in a tragic automobile accident.   

In the game, after trailing early 2-0 early on Cobleskill was able to chip away at Bard's lead by adding a goal in the 28^th minute by freshman midfielder Moussa Bamba, Bronx, N.Y., Fredrick Douglas Academy, on a perfect feed from sophomore forward Emile Vwaza, Manhattan, N.Y., Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School.   

The visiting Raptors, led at the half 2-1 and ended up tacking on an insurance goal in the second half  to put the game out of reach at 3-1.
Fighting Tiger freshman goalkeeper Sam Sherbacow, Minneola, Fla., Lake Minneola High School, made his collegiate debut and recorded four saves between the posts.

The Fighting Tigers continue their season at home on Sunday with a non-conference game against the Pioneers of Utica College at 1:30 p.m.