ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth men's soccer team had a testy non-conference battle with the University of Rochester on Wednesday, falling 2-1 at Golden Flyer Stadium. It was the Golden Flyers first non-conference home loss since September 14, 2019, a 2-1 loss to Ithaca. Jake Pawlika scored a penalty kick goal for Nazareth and now has nine goals in 10 games for Nazareth this season.
 
Nazareth moves to 7-2-1 with the loss, while Rochester moves to 6-1-3.
 
Nazareth had the better of play to begin the game before the Yellowjackets turned the pressure on. A giveaway by the Golden Flyers in the defensive third led to U of R scoring the first goal of the game in the 24^th minute. Ashton Prescott intercepted a square ball and took it the rest of the way for the goal.
 
The score remained 1-0 at the break.
 
The Yellowjackets notched 14 shots in the first half to Nazareth's 4. For the game, U of R held a 21-16 edge in shots. 
 
U of R doubled up Nazareth with a free kick in the 51^st minute, as an in-swinging pass from the sideline was headed in by Jeremiah Anandarajah.
 
Nazareth had a quick answer, however, as Drew Decker beat a defender streaking towards the net and was taken down for a penalty. Pawlika took the penalty kick and slotted it in the left side to pull Nazareth to within 2-1 at 51:08. He now has 29 career goals which moves him into a tie for second place all-time with Ryan Foley. His 71 career points is tied for fourth all-time with Steve Fisher.

The hosts had a few other dangerous opportunities down the stretch but were unable to net the equalizer.
 
Patrick Larkin made six saves in net in the losing effort. 
 
Nazareth returns to the pitch on Saturday, hosting Alfred at 1 p.m.