ONEONTA, NY - The Utica College Pioneers waited until the final game of the 2004 regular season to claim their first Empire 8 conference win in program history. Utica prevailed in a 14-10 decision over the Hawks of Hartwick College on Saturday afternoon in Oneonta, NY.

Utica finished its fourth season as a varsity program with an overall record of 3-7.

The Pioneers, who trailed 3-0 after a successful 21-yard field goal by Hartwick's Cory Nebel in the closing seconds of the first quarter, captured a 7-3 lead at the five-minute mark of the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Jeff Muha (Boonville, NY/Adirondack). Muha's touchdown, his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, was setup by a JP Lignowski (Walden, NY/Valley Central) fumble recovery and 11-yard return.

Hartwick would regain the lead at 10-7 less than three minutes later on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Matt Nazarian to Richard Sands. Utica responded, however, capping off a three-play, 63-yard drive with a 58-yard end zone delivery from sophomore quarterback Greg Pinelli (Bristol, PA/Bristol) to freshman receiver James Proniewych (Medford, NY/Patchogue-Medford) with a little over a minute left to play in the opening half of competition.

The 14-10 Utica College halftime lead held up as neither team scored in the second half of action.

Pinelli and Proniewych teamed up to lead the Utica offensive attack on the afternoon. Pinelli completed 15-of-24 passing attempts for 199 yards and one touchdown, and rushed 10 times for 40 yards, while Proniewych accumulated 133 yards receiving on four passes, including the 58-yard touchdown bomb. Sophomore running back Tyrell Robinson (Middletown, NY/Middletown) aided the ground game, taking eight carries for a total of 38 yards.

Freshman defensive lineman Ed Santiago (New Haven, NY/Wilbur Cross) led a Pioneer defensive that held Hartwick to only 30 yards rushing with a team-high nine tackles, including six for a loss of 23 yards and two sacks. Sophomore linebacker Jim Tedesco (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) managed seven tackles, including two for a loss of yards, and one interception, and sophomore defensive back Marcus Maroney (Utica, NY/Lockport) finished the afternoon with six tackles and four pass breakups.

Senior defensive back Anthony Venturino (Utica, NY/DeSales), competing in his final contest as a Pioneer, tallied five tackles, a 26-yard kickoff return, and two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown and later called back on a Utica penalty.

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