Box Score Utica 2, Hamilton 1 - Men's Soccer Final
Utica, NY (10/23/2012) – The Utica College men's soccer team battled from an early 1-0 deficit to earn an inspiring 2-1 victory over cross-town rival Hamilton College on Tuesday night under the lights at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. UC scored both of its goals in an 11 minute stretch in the second half, as the Pioneers won their fourth straight contest headed into a crucial Empire 8 Conference contest at Elmira College on Saturday. If the Pioneers' win or tie on Saturday they will earn a spot in the coveted Empire 8 Conference Tournament for the fourth time in the last six years.
Utica (8-7-1, 2-3 E8) defeated Hamilton (4-8-2, 2-6-2 NESCAC) for just the second time in the long standing rivalry. The
Pioneers' trailed 1-0 headed into the second half of play, but goals from sophomore
Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) (50:28) and reigning conference player of the week
Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) (61:33) lifted UC's record above .500 for the first time in over a month.
Hamilton's Griffin Abbott got the Continentals on the board with his second tally of the season in the 10th minute of the game when he rebounded home a shot in the box to put the visitors on top 1-0 early. The initial shot by Brian Whiston was saved by a Pioneer defender before Abbott cleaned it up to give the Continentals the lead.
Both teams held each other scoreless for the next 40 minutes of action until Stashko finished his second goal of the season after a centering pass from junior Jonathan Peterson. Peterson currently ranks second on the team with 13 points this season.
Ruffing was able to put the Pioneers on top in the 61st minute when he headed home a crossing pass from freshman forward
Kyle Cupka (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional). The eventual game-winner marked the 6-foot-6 Ruffing's third goal in two games, and he now has four total for the year.
It was a milestone victory for the Pioneers, as they headed into the contest having not beaten Hamilton since 1984. The Continentals record against UC moved to 32-2-0 over the course of 34 meetings all-time.
The Pioneers entered the contest having lost five one goal games this year, but this time they were able to come away with a notch in the win column.
It was a physical game that featured four yellow cards (three for Hamilton, one for Utica) and one red card (Hamilton). UC outshot the visitors 20-10 on the day and each team earned six corner kick opportunities. UC's
Anthony Caruso (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) stopped six shots in net, as he held the opponent to one goal or less for the 12th time this year.
Utica has two regular season contests left, beginning with the game against Elmira on Saturday at 3 p.m. Hamilton closed out its year with the loss to the Pioneers, as they failed to make the NESCAC Tournament.
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