Box Score Utica 2, Houghton 2 (2 OT) - Men's Soccer Final

Utica, NY (11/7/2012) – Seniors DJ Ilebani (Abuja, Nigeria/Intl. School of Kenya) and Daniel Garcia (Fairport, NY/Fairport) each netted a goal in their final game as a Pioneer, but a strong comeback from visiting Houghton College led to a 2-2 draw in Utica's season finale on Wednesday night at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  Junior Kevin McAllister (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) assisted on both of the Pioneer goals as they wrapped up their 2012 campaign with an 8-8-2 overall record. 

After UC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 30:16 of the contest, the visiting Highlanders (9-6-3) charged back with goals in the 43rd and 82nd minutes to ensure the 2-2 tie.  Utica saw four solid chances slip away in the second overtime and the clock expired with the score knotted at two goals apiece. 

Ilebani opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he rifled home his second goal of the year into the top right corner of the net to give UC a one goal advantage early on.  Less than five minutes later the Pioneers increased their lead to 2-0 when Garcia headed home his fourth goal of the year past Houghton goalie Tyler Mastin.  McAllister picked up an assist on both goals, increasing his point total to a team-best 22 on the year (nine goals, four assists).

The visitors would not go down with a fight and they cut the Pioneer lead in half with their first of the evening in the 43rd minute.  Jared Toth used a nifty bicycle kick in the box to put his fourth goal of the year past UC goalie Anthony Caruso (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) to make the score 2-1.  Caruso finished the day with nine saves.  John Carpenter was credited with an assist on the Highlanders first goal of the afternoon. 

Houghton scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute when Cory Martin ripped home his first goal of the year from 15 yards out to tie the score at 2-2.  That score would remain 2-2 through the end of regulation.  HC out shot Utica 4-2 in the first ten minute overtime, and UC answered by outshooting the Highlanders 4-0 in the second overtime, but neither team could find the back of the net as the game ended in a draw. 

Utica earned a 21-16 shot advantage on the afternoon, while Houghton was awarded three corner kicks compared to the Pioneers' two.

Before the start of Wednesday's game the Pioneers said goodbye to four seniors: DJ Ilebani (Abuja, Nigeria/Intl. School of Kenya), Daniel Garcia (Fairport, NY/Fairport), Jeff Konieczny (Hadley, MA/Hopkins) and Brett Darrow (Poland, NY/Poland) for their four years of service to the men's soccer program.

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