Utica, NY (10/25/14)- The Utica College men's soccer team stayed in the playoff hunt as it picked up a huge Empire 8 Conference win over visiting St. John Fisher College, 2-0, Saturday evening at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. 
 
With the win, Utica improves to 6-7-3 and 3-3 in the Empire 8.  The Pioneers are now tied with Nazareth College for fourth place in the Conference with one game remaining in the regular season.  If Utica defeats Alfred University next Saturday (4 p.m.), the Pioneers will clinch a spot in the E8 Tournament.
 
The teams played nearly 90 minutes of scoreless action before sophomore Matt Beljan (Bedminster, PA/Christopher Dock) broke the deadlock in the 88th minute.  Ricky Drake (Clifton Park, NY/Catholic Central) assisted on Beljan's first of the year.  Just 36 seconds later, senior Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) all but sealed the victory as he found the back of the net for his conference-leading tenth goal of the season. 
 
Senior David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) made six saves for his second consecutive shutout and his fifth of the year, while his counterpart, Josh Klein had six stops in the loss. 
 
UC held a slight advantage in shots at 17-15, and edged the Cardinals 5-3 in corner kicks.  


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