ROME -- The Hawks opened the 2015 season Friday afternoon with a 9-5 loss to Rollins College.

The Tars (2-0) took the lead early in the game; scoring twice in the first period to take a 2-0 advantage. Shorter answered with 4:57 to play in the frame cutting the lead in half with a goal from Jordan Getz on an assists from Jordan Butz, and then tied the game 2-2 as Alex Malinowski tallied his first goal as a Hawk in a man-down situation in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Rollins then posted three unanswered goals to take a 5-2 score into the halftime break.

Travis Getz scored the lone goal of the third quarter on a feed from Stephan Stanfill to cut the Tars lead to 5-3 as he netted his first goal of the year with 0:48 to play in period. Rollins scored four times during the final fifteen minutes; while holding the Hawks to two scores to earn the win 9-5. T. Getz and Malinowski added the goals for Shorter on assists from Zachery Dirkse and Tyler Kristiansen, respectively.

JR Willers played the complete game in goal for the Hawks; tallying 12 saves on 21 shots on goal.

The Tars outshot Shorter 40-27 in the game, while also leading in groundballs 38-24, and winning 11 of 18 face-offs.

The Hawks will be back in action Tuesday, February 10, as Brevard College visits Ben Brady Field for a 3:00pm face-off.