Preseason Interview with UC Head Coach Brian MarcantonioUtica, NY (8/28/2014) – The Utica College men's soccer team kicks off its 2014 campaign with an opening weekend set at the friendly confines of Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers will host Sage on Friday night (7 p.m.) before welcoming Purchase College on Saturday (2 p.m.).
Catch All The Action: Live video for both contests this weekend will be streaming on
www.empire8.tv and
www.ucpioneers.com/watch ... Live audio will be provided by WPNR 90.7 FM and fans can also follow live stats at
www.sidearmstats.com/utica/msoc .... Fans can follow live updates on Twitter and Instagram: @UCPioneers and make sure to Like the Pioneers on Facebook by visiting
www.facebook.com/ucpioneers. Â Â
Best Finish Ever: The Pioneers are riding the highs of one of their most successful seasons as they defeated Ithaca College in the semi-finals of the 2013 Empire 8 Conference Tournament and advanced to the championship game for the first time in program-history … The Pioneers hope to build off last season's 10-10 overall ledger … UC also finished with a 4-2 mark in conference play in earned hosting rights for the semi-finals of the conference tournament against Ithaca.Â
Home Sweet Home: In the last four seasons the Pioneers have compiled a 28-9-2 overall record on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium … The Pioneers have won seven games at home in each of the last four years.Â
Schedule Outlook: The Pioneers schedule includes ten road games and eight home contests … Seven of those contests will come in Empire 8 Conference play … The middle of the Pioneers' schedule will prove to be a crucial stretch as they play 6-of-7 games on the road from Sept. 27 – Oct. 22 … Four of those seven contests will be pivotal conference games against Elmira (9/27), preseason nationally-ranked No. 12 Stevens (10/4), Ithaca (10/11) and Nazareth (10/18).
Empire 8 Preseason Poll: UC earned 26 points and ranked fourth in the 2014 Empire 8 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll released Monday … Stevens Institute of Technology was picked by the coaches to repeat as the E8 champions.
 Who's Back: The Pioneers return four starters from last year's squad including the senior trio of forward
Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough), and defender's
Anthony Fotino (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) and
Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) … Sophomore defender
Evan Bailey (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) also returns after starting 15-of-18 games one year ago … 12 other returning lettermen, and 12 newcomers, will fill the void left from the 12 Pioneers who departed from last year's team.Â
Between the Pipes: Senior goalie David Abou has waited his turn, and after three years behind
Anthony Caruso (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) '14, he will step into the starting role this season … Over the course of three seasons, Abdou has played in eight games and he boasts a 1.45 goals against average with a 1-1 overall record … Freshman
Sean King-Donaghy (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) and
Matthew Milograno (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) will serve as the two backups to Abdou to start the season.Â
Ruffing Returns: Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) is the top returning scorer for the Pioneers after posting a career-best six goals and two assists in 2013 … Ruffing now has 26 career points (11 goals, four assists) in 41 career games at UC ... Ruffing keeps himself in shape in the offseason competing with the track & field team as a hurdler/sprinter and last Spring he was named the Empire 8 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Fotino & Stashko Troll the Back: Senior's
Anthony Fotino (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) and
Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) will lead the Pioneers defense this season … Over the course of the last three years these two have helped the Pioneers win 29 games, 18 of which were shutout victories … They played a major role in helping the Pioneers post seven shutouts last season … Also returning to the defensive end will be junior
John Burke (Commack. NY/Commack) and sophomores
Patrick Claffey (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) and
Owen Gillam (Bristol, CT/Bristol) … Newcomers
Diego Cueva (Woodside, NY/CTEA),
Andrew Ruyack (Chester, NY/Monroe Woodbury) and
Jack Costanzo (Wantagh, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) will also pressure for time on the defensive side of the pitch.Â
Stepping Up: The Pioneers have seven returning midfielders who will look to step into roles in the middle… Sophomore
Raine Owens (Pine Plains, NY/Stissing Mt. ) played in 18 games last season and netted two goals while tallying one assist … Adding to the depth in the middle will be senior
Kevin Desa (Winchester, MA/Winchester), juniors
Zack Doyle (West Hurley, NY/Onteora),
Justin Schray (Oxford, NY/Oxford) and
Jordan Senay (Lockport, NY/Lockport), as well as sophomores
Matt Beljan (Bedminster, PA/Christopher Dock) and
Joseph Hunter (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh).
On the Attack: Adding depth to Ruffing's presence up top will be returning attacker
Marcel Dupuis (Hannacroix, NY/Greenville) and freshmen
Gustaf Petersen (Stockholm, Sweden/Blackebergs) and
Dzenan Racic (Utica, NY/Proctor) … Petersen comes to UC from Stockholm, Sweden, and he is one of two international students on the squad.Â
Freshman Midfielders:Â Five freshmen will vie for time in the midfield, including
Kyle Carr (Trumansburg, NY/Charles O. Dickerson),
Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia/),
Michael Bernardo (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore),
Connor Reagan (Sanbornton, NH/Bridgton ) and
Ricky Drake (Clifton Park, NY/Catholic Central).Â
New Head Coach, Familiar Face: UC Head Coach
Brian Marcantonio took over the reins of the program after the departure of Eric Watson at the end of last season … Marcantonio spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach at nearby Hamilton College, where he played collegiate soccer … He is no stranger to Utica College and its soccer program, having spent three seasons as an assistant men's soccer coach at UC from 2010-2012.
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