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Utica, NY (9/24/14) – The Utica College's men soccer team hits the road on Saturday afternoon for a key Empire 8 Conference matchup at Elmira College. The game is set to start at 3 p.m.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you're unable to travel to Elmira, the Soaring Eagles will provide live stats and video of the game … For a live stream of the game please follow this link: http://athletics.elmira.edu/showcase … For live stats of the game please follow this link: http://www.sidearmstats.com/elmira/msoc/

ON THE ROAD: The Pioneers are 0-2-1 on the road this season … UC has scored three of their thirteen goals on the road … David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has made 17 of his 40 saves on the road.

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND: Forward Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) continues to lead the Empire 8 Conference in goals (eight) and points (16) …Ruffing has been named Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week twice … Ruffing came out of the gates firing with six goals in the first three games and scored a hat trick in the opening game of the season against Sage College (8/29/14) … Since then he's scored in back-to-back games for the second time this season … Ruffing scored a goal and acquired his only assist so far against Houghton College (9/20/14) in a crucial 2-1 win.

NONE SHALL PASS: Goalie David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) leads the Empire 8 Conference in saves (40) and shutouts (three) … Abdou was named the Empire 8 Conference Goalie of the Week during the opening weekend after recording five saves and two shutouts … Abdou has logged the most minutes in the Empire 8 as a goalie with 772:02 … He has five games with five or more saves and two games with seven saves.

ASSIST LEADER: Midfielder Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia/) leads the Empire 8 Conference in assists with four … The four assists came in pairs against Sage College (8/29/14) and Houghton College (9/20/14) … Bita is second on the team with thirteen shots and third on the team with six points … He has seen action in all eight games and has started four.

LAST TIME AGAINST ELMIRA: The Pioneers beat the Soaring Eagles (11/2/13) 2-1 last year … UC outshot Elmira 15-12 and seniors Kevin McAllister (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) and Jonathon Peterson (Bedford, NH/New Hampton) scored in the first half of the Pioneers' victory … Senior goalie Anthony Caruso (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) came up with five saves for Utica.

STASHKO DELIVERS: Senior Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) netted a huge goal against Houghton last week and he now ranks second on the team with seven points (two goals, three assists). 

SCOUTING THE SOARING EAGLES: Elmira is 0-6-1 on the season … The Soaring Eagles have three goals on the season while allowing 25 goals and have been outshot 48-189 … Soaring Eagle Donte Donegal has scored all three goals and leads the team with six points … Elmira has played four games at home and have let in 13 goals in that span.

THE NEXT TIME OUT: After Saturday's game the Pioneers will travel to Morrisville State College Tuesday at 4 p.m.