Box Score

The Utica College men's soccer team lost 4-1 to host and nationally-ranked No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday in an Empire 8 Conference contest. Although the Pioneers lost, they received the help they needed when Nazareth defeated RIT earlier in the day, and UC received the No. 4 seed in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament next weekend. The Pioneers (12-5-1, 3-3-1) will travel right back to top-seeded Stevens in Hoboken, N.J. next Friday to take on the Ducks in a semi-final match up.

UC, which set a program-record with 12 wins this season, is making its third appearance in the conference tournament in the last four years. The Pioneers head into the tournament with a head of steam having won four of its last five games but they will have to get past the pesky Ducks who rank No. 1 in the East Region with a 12-1-3 overall record.

The Pioneers gave up four goals over the course of the first 80 minutes of play Saturday afternoon as the Ducks jumped out to a considerable lead. UC's Jonathan Wood (Derry, NH/Pinkerton) cut the Stevens' lead to three goals in the 81st minute when he headed home the Pioneers' lone goal of the contest off an assist from senior David Garcia (Fairport, NY/Fairport).

Freshman goalie Anthony Caruso (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) stopped four shots in goal for the Pioneers.

Check www.ucpioneers.com for game times and live options for next Friday's conference tournament contest.

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