Box Score
Utica, NY (August 29, 2014) – Senior forward Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) became just the fourth player in program-history to score at least three goals in a single game as the Utica College men's soccer team kicked off its 2014 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over The Sage Colleges on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Friday night. Freshman Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia/) assisted on two of Ruffing's goals, while senior Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) assisted the first goal of the game and freshman Andrew Ruyack (Chester, NY/Monroe Woodbury) also added his first collegiate assist.    

The Pioneers improved to 1-0 for the third time in four years and they will get right back to work on Saturday when they host Purchase College for game two of opening weekend at Gaetano Stadium (2 p.m.).  Sage dropped to 0-1 overall as the Gators were led by five saves from goalie TJ Zehner. 

All three of Ruffing's goals came in the first half of play and they were all scored within a span of 8:29.  Ruffing's first goal of the season came at the 19:25 marker and he added his second of the night just 4:09 later.  He completed the hat-trick in the 27^th minute, and that was all the scoring the Pioneers would need as senior goalie David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) collected the shut out after stopping three second half shots. 

Ruffing's three-goal night propelled him into sixth place on the College's all-time goal scoring list as he has 14 goals in 42 career contests.  His 32 career points are now tied for eighth all-time with former Pioneer Shawn Davie '97.    

UC outshot Sage 9-7 on the afternoon and earned five corner kicks.