Utica, NY (10/14/14) – The Utica College men's soccer team travels to Nazareth Sunday afternoon for an Empire 8 Conference game against the Golden Flyers. The contest is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers dropped a close 1-0 decision to Ithaca on Saturday… Senior David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had a game-high nine saves and classmate Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) led the Pioneers with two shots on goal.
WHERE WE SIT: Utica is 4-6-3 on the year and 2-2 in the Empire 8 Conference… The Pioneers have had a tough road recently as they are winless in their last four (0-3-1)… UC is still in the playoff hunt with a 2-2 conference record and three Empire 8 games remaining… Utica is currently tied with St. John Fisher for the fourth and final playoff spot.
GOLDEN BOOT: Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) continues to lead the Empire 8 in goals (nine) and points (20) … Ruffing's last goal came against Skidmore College (10/7/14) in the seventh minute … Ruffing's team leading 37 shots ranks him third in the Conference.
THE SAVER: David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has posted back-to-back nine-save games, against Skidmore College (10/7/14) and Ithaca College (10/11/14), which has propelled him into sole position of most saves in the Conference with 71 … Abdou ranks third in the Empire 8 in goals against average (1.377) and shutouts (three).
FRESHMAN PHENOM: Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia) now has an Empire 8 best six assists … His latest assist came against Skidmore College (10/14/14) when he helped Ruffing to his ninth goal ... Gazashvili is second on the team in shots (25) and shots on goal (15).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLYERS: Nazareth is 3-9 on the season with a 2-5 home record … The Golden Flyers have eleven players with at least one point … Ryan Foley leads Nazareth with five goals and two assists … Naz is utilizing two goalies this season, Nate Ripic and Diego Abreu.
LAST TIME AGAINST NAZARETH: The Pioneers shutout the Golden Flyers 1-0 last year (9/21/13) … Kevin McAllister (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) scored the lone goal in the first half while Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) and Jonathon Peterson (Bedford, NH/New Hampton) provided the assist … Naz outshout UC 11 to 5.
ALL TIME SERIES: Since 2001 Nazareth leads the series 11-2 … Nine of the last 13 games between these two teams have been decided by one goal.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will travel to SUNY Canton on Wednesday for a non-conference match up against the Kangaroos… Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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