Box Score Utica 23, Union 16
 Schenectady, NY (September 13, 2014) –  The Utica College football team scored 23 unanswered points Saturday, all in the second half, to defeat  Union 23-16 in non-conference play at Frank Bailey Field.  Sophomore cornerback Irvens Eristil (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury) led the Pioneers as he recovered a fumble and returned it 17 yards for the go ahead and eventual game-winning touchdown with 12:06 left in regulation. Eristil also snagged an interception and recorded three tackles to help UC remain undefeated at 2-0 on the season.

The Pioneers will open up Empire 8 Conference play next Saturday Sept. 20^th as they welcome Frostburg State University to Charles A. Gaetano Stadium for their home-opener.  Kick-off is set for 12 p.m.  Union falls to 0-2 on the season and travels to St. Lawrence University next Saturday for its Liberty League Conference opener in Canton, NY.

The Dutchmen didn't waste any time getting on the board as they drove down the field and put up a quick three points on its opening drive.  The home team worked 10 plays for 50 yards as Jon Schaible converted a 33-yard field goal for the first score of the contest.

Union continued its momentum holding UC to a three-and-out on the Pioneers first possession and turned in it into six quick points.  Dutchmen quarterback Connor Eck hooked up with Kyle Reynolds on a 12 yard pass, on third down, capping an eight play 42 yard drive.  Union would not convert the two-point attempt as it led UC 9-0 with just under six minutes left in the first quarter.

After two straight three and outs by the Pioneers, UC finally put together a drive late in the first with eight plays and 33 yards however put the ball on the ground giving Union back the ball to start the second quarter.  The Dutchmen managed an 11 play push to open the second quarter but could not convert a fourth and 10 from the Utica 25 yard line. 

Nonetheless, Utica continued to turn the ball over as Will Kassar (Lattingtown, NY/Glen Cove) tossed an interception on the first play of the drive with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.  Union would take advantage this time converting the pick into seven points, just under two minutes later.  Eck would hurl his second touchdown of the afternoon as he hooked up with Andrew Baker on a nine yard pass, at 8:34, giving Union a 16-0 lead.  The Pioneers final two drives of the half ended with two failed short yardage fourth downs.

The Pioneers came out in the third quarter and finally got on the board as they manufactured two scores late in the quarter, just under three minutes apart.  Utica worked a 14 play 50 yard drive, in 6:07, ending with a one-yard score from quarterback Will Kassar (Lattingtown, NY/Glen Cove) for its first score and went on to convert the two-point as Kassar hit Mike Russo (Hicksville, NY/Holy Trinity) to pull the Pioneers within one score, 16-8.  The Pioneers would strike again just over two minutes later as senior running back Jesse Baldassare (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) scampered a 22 yard run to pull Utica within two points, 16-14. Kassar would take the two-point attempt himself as Utica knotted up the game, 16-16.

The Pioneer defense turned it on in the final 15 minutes tallying two forced fumbles, one for a touchdown, and an interception with less than two minutes remaining to close out the victory.  Eristil returned a fumble recovery 17 yards to give Utica the lead at 12:06 and then ended Union's drive and any hopes of a comeback with his interception.

Baldassare finished out the afternoon with 28 carries for 85 yards and a 17 yard reception while classmate Anthony Acevedo (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) led the receiving core with four grabs and 96 yards including a 43 yard catch. Will Kassar (Lattingtown, NY/Glen Cove) went 9-for-24 with two interceptions and one fumble however registered 50 yards on the ground with a touchdown.

Junior Jonathan Cappotelli (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia) and sophomore Juwan Wilson (South Ozone Park, NY/Holy Cross) led the defensive unit with a combined 31 tackles as Cappotelli tallied a game-high 17 tackles as the Pioneers remain a perfect 2-0 headed into conference play.