Visiting Geneva College scored three unanswered goals to hand the Bearcats a 3-2 Senior Day defeat on the SVC turf.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead just 20 minutes into the first half, before watching Geneva score three unanswered goals, including the game-winner with just five minutes left in regulation.

Luis Rodriguez scored the first tally of the game, sending home a long header from Gage Arnold to put the hosts up 1-0 in the game's 10th minute.

Nine minutes later, SVC's Ben Fecik sent a rocket in from 15 yards out.  It banged off the crossbar, but rebounded right to the foot of Rodriguez who directed it into the net for his 15th goal of the season and 105th point of his career.

It also gave Rodriguez his fourth multi-goal game of the season, while Fecik's assist was his 11th of the year, good for the top spot in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

Geneva wasted little time in beginning the comeback, with Bruce Fox scoring off of a cross from Zachary Buffalini to cut the SVC lead to 2-1 with 16 minutes left in the half.

The Golden Tornadoes continued with the momentum, tying the game three minutes later on a goal by Jake McCracken.

The game then turned into a defensive battle throughout the second half, with SVC goalie Clemente Mejia and Geneva keeper David Callahan combining for 10 saves over the first 40 minutes of the second stanza.

With five minutes left, Geneva took advantage of a Bearcat foul deep inside Golden Tornado territory, and Josh Mann scored on a header after the free kick to give the visitors the 3-2 lead with 5:47 left in regulation.

The Bearcats were unable to put together a final rally, suffering the one-goal loss, their second straight and fifth of the season.

For the game, Geneva owned a 19-15 advantage in shots, while the Bearcats were granted the lone corner kick of the afternoon.  Mejia finished the day with eight saves in the losing effort.

Prior to the game, the Bearcats' senior class of Rodriguez, Ben Fecik, Matt Fecik, Jimmy Vargo, and John Woodruff were recoginzed for their four-year careers in the green and gold.

The loss, their second straight, dropped the Bearcats' record to 7-10-2.  The team will wrap up the 2009 season on Wednesday afternoon, hosting PAC leader Thomas More College on the SVC turf beginning at 1pm.

PHOTO (By Jim Berger):  Ben Fecik dribbles around two defenders on SVC's Senior Day against Geneva College