DAYTON, Ohio (Aug. 31, 2007) – The Saint Francis men's soccer team bounced back from an early 2-0 deficit, but suffered a gut-wrenching 3-2 setback in its season opener against Butler on a goal in the final minute Friday afternoon at the Courtyard By Marriott Flyer Classic, hosted by the University of Dayton.

The Red Flash got second half goals from junior Jeremy Tice (Litteton, CO/Chatfield) (Littleton, Colo. / Chatfield) and freshman Benjamin Kujawa (Jarrettsville, Md. / North Harford), respectively, to tie the match at 2-2. However, Butler's Frank Patano scored his second goal of the match at 89:21 to secure the 3-2 win for his team.

Saint Francis will try to bounce back when it faces tournament-host Dayton beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Patano opened the scoring in the contest at 5:20 of the first half off a cross from Boris Gatzky. David Giarratana nailed a penalty kick at 17:55 to give Butler a 2-0 edge.

But the Red Flash regrouped at halftime and tallied their first goal of the season off Tice's foot at 57:39 to make it 2-1. Redshirt sophomore Brian Murphy (Newbury, OH/West Geauga) (Chesterland, Ohio / West Geauga) sent a cross through the middle of the box, and Tice was able to put it in the net.

Saint Francis would tie the match at 2-2 at 69:02 off a Kujawa one-timer on a pass from fellow freshman Kyle Driscoll (Albuquerque, N.M/Saint Pius X) (Albuquerque, N.M. / Saint Pius X). 

But Patano nailed a shot from the middle of the box to hand the Red Flash a tough season-opening loss.

Saint Francis outshot Butler 16-12 in the match, including a 9-5 edge in the second half, and had seven corner kicks against just three.