LANCASTER, Pa. – The No. 8 Franklin & Marshall men's soccer team (14-3-2, 6-1-2 CC) used a goal in the 71st minute to propel past Geneva (12-5-4, 7-0-3 PAC), 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon at Tylus Field. F&M has now reached the second round of the big dance nine times in the last 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

With both teams trading shots early in the first half, F&M was inches away from grabbing the lead when Ian Kagan headed a shot off the crossbar in the 36th minute. The Diplomats edged Geneva in first-half shots, 8-6, but neither team could find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes of play.

Franklin & Marshall came out of the halftime break with relentless pressure on the Geneva defense that ended up paying off in the 78th minute. Off a chip into the offensive zone, Nic Petruso intercepted a backwards pass from a Geneva defender and blasted a shot past the goalkeeper to break the scoreless tie. Not only was it the game's first goal, but the score was Petruso's first of the season.

The Golden Tornadoes nearly answered with a goal of their own just ten minutes later when a loose ball in the F&M box was fired towards the net. However, Myles Ryan headed the shot away from the cage to keep Geneva off the scoreboard.

F&M outshot Geneva, 20-9, in the game with 12 of the Diplomats' shots coming in the second half. Franklin & Marshall also generated seven corner kicks, while holding the visitors to four in the match.

Goalkeeper Nolan Booth made four saves to pick up his fifth shutout of the season.

Franklin & Marshall now prepares to face Connecticut College at Tylus Field Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.