Utica, NY (Sept. 3, 2014) – The Utica College men's soccer team looks to remain undefeated as the Pioneers travel to nearby SUNYIT on Wednesday afternoon to take on the Wildcats at 6 p.m.

LOCAL RIVALS: The Pioneers are 9-2 against SUNYIT dating back to 2003 … UC has shut out the Wildcats in six of those 11 meetings … UC's only two losses in the last 11 meetings were a 2-1 defeat in 2006 and a 1-0 loss last season … The Pioneers have outscored the Wildcats 24-6 in the last 11 meetings. 

SO FAR, SO GOOD: The Pioneers have opened the season 2-0 for the third time in the last four years after a convincing 4-0 victory over visiting SUNY Purchase on Saturday at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium … UC has now outscored its opponents 7-0 over the course of their first two games, after topping Sage 3-0 in their home opener on Friday night. 

LET THE HONORS ROLL IN: Utica College senior forward Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) netted five goals in two games on opening weekend and for his efforts he was named the ECAC Upstate Player of the Week, the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week and the College's Male Athlete of the Week … Ruffing is off to one of the hottest starts in program-history and he is just one goal shy of his career best of six goals in a single season which he set back in 2013 …  Ruffing's 36 career points (16 goals, four assists) are now tied for sixth all-time at UC and his 16 career goals are tied for fourth all-time.

ABDOU STARTS STRONG: Senior goalie David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week after stopping five shots and recording two shut outs over the weekend.

STASHKO MOVING FORWARD: Senior defender Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) is off to a great start this season as he has two assists in his first two games … He now has two goals and eight assists over the course of 49 career games … He recorded a career-high four assists as a freshman. 

QUICK LEARNER: Freshman Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia/) is off to a quick start and he currently ranks second on the team with one goal and two assists in his first two collegiate games … His opening goal on Saturday against Purchase proved to be the game-winner. 

LAST TIME AGAINST SUNYIT: (9/4/13) - SUNYIT senior Diego Montaleza broke a scoreless tie with 6:26 remaining in the contest off a free kick from 25 yards out to lift the visiting Wildcats to a 1-0 victory over Utica College on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium last season … The Pioneers outshot the visitors 13-3 on the afternoon.

SCOUTING SUNYIT: The Wildcats won the NEAC Conference Championship last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament before being knocked out in the First Round by perennial power University of Rochester … In their home opener this season the Wildcats led Purchase 2-1 in the 64^th minute but surrendered two consecutive goals down the stretch to fall by the score of 3-2 … Junior Luke Bogar led SUNYIT with one goal and one assist in the opener.

BACK IN ACTION: After Wednesday night the Pioneers will take six days off of game action before they travel to Wells College on Tuesday to take on the Express at 5 p.m.