Box Score Utica 4, Wells 2 - Box Score

Aurora N.Y. (10/9/2011) - The Utica College men's soccer team jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the course of the first 70 minutes of the contest and never looked back on its way to a 4-2 victory over host Wells College Sunday afternoon.  Four different players scored for UC including senior Jonathan Wood (Derry, NH/Pinkerton), junior Daniel Garcia (Fairport, NY/Fairport), freshman Dennis Runikera (Gaithersburg, MD/Northwood) and senior Steven Romero (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle). 

Sunday's win moved the Pioneers' record to 6-5 through 11 games this year and it marked the first time this season that they came away with a victory without posting a shutout.  All five of UC's losses this season have been by just one goal and they look to earn their first Empire 8 Conference victory of the season next Saturday when Elmira College comes to town at 7 p.m. as a part of the College's homecoming festivities.

The Pioneers got on the board in the 14th minute when Wood netted his fifth goal of the season.  Wood is now tied with sophomore Kevin McAllister (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) for the team lead with 14 points this season (five goals, four assists). 

Junior Daniel Garcia (Fairport, NY/Fairport) netted his first collegiate goal, off an assist from McAllister, to help pad the Pioneers' lead early in the second half.  Freshman Dennis Runikera (Gaithersburg, MD/Northwood) followed suit, netting his first collegiate goal, to give UC a 3-0 lead in the 65th minute. 

Fate would have it that another Pioneer would net his first career goal and this time it came from the foot of senior forward Steven Romero (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle).  Romero's first career tally came less than three minutes after Runikera's, and it gave UC a comfortable four goal advantage. 

Wells's JP Rosas netted two late goals to put a small scare in the Pioneer's, but the goalie tandem of Anthony Caruso (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) and David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) was able to maintain the two goal lead for Utica as the final horn sounded.  Caruso finished the day with two saves, while Abdou was making his first appearance in net this season. 

UC outshot the home team 18-9 on the afternoon and the Pioneers' earned 11 corner kick opportunities compared to the Express's one. 

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