Utica, NY (9/23/14) – The Utica College men's soccer team looks to build off its recent success as it hosts local rival Hamilton College Tuesday night under the lights at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The contest is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION: If you are unable to attend the game UC will provide numerous opportunities to enjoy the action… Links to all game coverage including Live Stats, Live Audio provided by Utica College's WPNR radio station, and Live Video are available … Fans can also follow live updates on Twitter and Instagram: @UCPioneers and make sure to like the Pioneers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ucpioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, be sure to use #UCMoose.
HOME ADVANTAGE: The Pioneers are 3-0-1 at home this season … UC has outscored opponents 9-1 during that stretch … The Pioneers currently have a seven game unbeaten streak at home dating back to Oct. 15 last year.
RUFFING EARNS E8 ACCOLADES: Senior forward
Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday… Ruffing tallied three points on Saturday night as the Pioneers opened up conference play with a come from behind, 2-1, win over visiting Houghton College… Ruffing assisted on the Pioneers game-tying goal in the 62nd minute and he added the game-winner, his seventh goal of the season, in the 83rd minute… He currently leads the Empire 8 and is tied for 16th nationally with seven goals this season… He also ranks 12th nationally with 1.00 goals per game.
GAZASHVILI NAMED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Freshman midfielder
Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia/) was named the College's Male Athlete of the Week for his performance last week... Gazashvili came off the bench against Houghton Saturday night and made an immediate impact with one shot on goal and two assists... He assisted on the game-tying goal by
Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) in the 62
nd minute... He followed that up with an assist on the game-winner as he used some fancy footwork to beat three defenders and center a pass to
Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) who put it home… Gazashvili has played in all seven games, while starting four... He currently leads the Empire 8 Conference with four assists and he has one goal on the season.
BRICK WALL: Senior
David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) is top three in every major category in the Empire 8, including shutouts (three), save percentage (.786), and goals against average (1.191) … Abdou continues to lead the league with 33 saves … Against SUNY IT he racked up a season-best seven saves.
FAMILIAR FACE: Utica College Head Coach
Brian Marcantonio served as assistant coach at Hamilton last season where he helped guide the Continentals to their first NESCAC Conference Tournament appearance since they joined the conference in 2011… During his playing days as an undergraduate at Hamilton, Marcantonio was a three-year starter, team captain, and an All-Northeast Region D3Kicks.com selection... He led Hamilton to one Liberty League regular season championship, two Liberty League tournament championships, and three NCAA tournament appearances.
SCOUTING THE CONTINENTALS: Hamilton is 3-1-1 on the season and has outscored opponents 10 to 3 … Goal keeper Harris Pollack has 2 shutouts, both on the road … Dan Kraynak leads the Continentals with three goals while Alec Talsania has a team-best three assists … Hamilton is undefeated on the road this season beating Oswego 3-0 and Bates College 2-0.
LAST TIME AGAINST HAMILTON: The Pioneers lost to the Continentals last year by the score of 2-1… UC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 26
th minute, but Hamilton used two second half goals to earn the victory… The Pioneers could only tally five shots to the Continentals' 19.
BREAKING THE TREND: Utica has won only once in the last ten meetings against Hamilton … In the ten contests the Pioneers have been outscored 27 to 9 … In 2012 Utica staged a second half come from behind win;
Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) scored in the 51
st minute and eleven minutes later
Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) scored the game winner.
BACK IN ACTION: After Tuesday's game, the Pioneers will travel to Elmira to take on the Soaring Eagles … Game time is set to start at 3 p.m.
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