Box Score Marcy, NY (September 3, 2014) – The Utica College men's soccer team rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring two goals in the final 5:43 of regulation to earn a 2-2 tie against host SUNYIT on Wednesday night.
Trailing 2-0 late in the contest, Utica's
Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) headed home his sixth goal of the season at 84:17 to cut the Pioneers' deficit in half. Senior
Chris Stashko (Apalachin, NY/Apalachin) added the equalizer on a penalty kick for the Pioneers just 3:54 later to knot the score at 2-2 with 1:49 left in regulation.
Both teams were held scoreless over the course of two ten minute overtime periods and the contest ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Pioneers remain unbeaten and they are now 2-0-1 overall. UC has outscored its opponents 9-2 on the season. SUNYIT rebounded from a 3-2 loss to Purchase last weekend and the Wildcats' record moved to 0-1-1 overall.
Stashko finished the night with the penalty kick goal and he also assisted Ruffing's goal on a free kick in the 85
th minute. Stashko currently ranks second on the team with five points this season (team-high three assists).
Ruffing kept his hot start alive and he now has a team-best six goals this season, tying his career-high which he set in 2013. Ruffing's 38 career points (17 goals, four assists) rank fifth all-time at UC and his 17 career goals put him in sole possession of fourth all-time in goals scored.
Utica goalie
David Abdou (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), the Empire 8 Conference's reigning defensive player of the week, made seven saves on the afternoon, while SUNYIT net minder Jesse Yanarella made four saves.
SUNYIT took the early 2-0 lead behind a goal each from Kafou Doumbia and C.J. Dean in the first 26:59 of the contest. Nick McBride and Kyle Baker each recorded an assist for the home team.
SUNYIT outshot the Pioneers 19-10 on the afternoon and earned a convincing 15-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Pioneers are 9-2-1 against SUNYIT dating back to 2003 and UC has shut out the Wildcats in six of those 12 meetings. The Pioneers have outscored the Wildcats 26-8 in the last 12 meetings.
Utica 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.
