Utica, NY (10/19/12)- The Utica College men's soccer team looks to keep its two game win streak alive in Empire 8 conference play as it takes on 4-11 Alfred University on Saturday at 1p.m. on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers took down the Ithaca Bombers (6-3-4, 3-1 E8) 2-0 during UC's homecoming weekend… Team scoring leader Kevin McAllister (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) captured third place on the College's all-time scoring list with a goal booted from fifteen yards out off an assist from junior captain Chris Perkins (Charlton, MA/Saint John's of Shrewsbury)... With the victory, the 6-7-1 Pioneers earned their first Empire 8 conference win this season… McAllister also earned Empire 8 athlete of the week honors after tallying two goals last week.

Shooting Gallery: UC has outshot opponents 191-157 on the season… They have also totaled 27 goals to their opponents' 17 and have averaged 1.93 goals per game while holding the opposition to just 1.21 goals per game.

Schedule Strength: Of the 61 teams that make up the D3 men's soccer East Region, the Pioneers find themselves with the eighth most difficult schedule this season, perhaps at least in part, attributing to the Pioneers 7 losses.

Saxon Story: Despite their record of 4-11, Alfred is coming off a huge 8-0 shut out over Buffalo State… Senior Frankie Mannino scored three goals in the game for AU.

History: The Pioneers are 5-0-1 against the Saxons in the past six seasons... Alfred has only netted two scores on Utica College in those six meetings… Last year the Pioneers defeated the Saxons 2-1 behind goals from McAllister and classmate Jonathon Peterson (Bedford, NH/New Hampton). 

Garcia vs. Garcia: Alfred's assistant coach is former Pioneer, David Garcia '11, the older brother of current senior Daniel Garcia (Fairport, NY/Fairport)… David was an all-conference selection while at UC and helped lead the Pioneers to three trips to the conference tournament during his time here… Daniel currently has three goals this season for Utica.

Looking Ahead: The Pioneers host their cross-town rival, Hamilton College, in non-conference play on Tuesday Oct. 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  The Pioneers are winless against the Continentals going back as far as ten seasons.


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