UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's soccer team takes on Empire 8 Conference rival Elmira College in its homecoming game Saturday evening. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: UC won its first conference game of the year against Nazareth 6-0 Saturday … Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) became the all-time leading scorer by netting two goals in a game that saw five Utica players score.
 
Homecoming Festivities: Saturday's game is part of an action packed 2015 Utica College Homecoming weekend… The UC women's soccer team kicks off the action Friday night as it hosts Nazareth College (5 p.m.)… The UC football team will face E8 rival Ithaca College Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. followed by the men's soccer game against Elmira ( 7p.m.)… The women's tennis team will face St. John Fisher College on Saturday and Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday… Both matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 
Leading the Way: The Pioneers are led by senior Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) and sophomore Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia) … Ruffing has a team-high 14 points off of five goals and four assists … Ruffing is fifth in the conference in points, sixth in the conference in goals, and is tied with Gazashvili for second in the conference in assists (4) … Gazashvili is second on the team with 10 points off of three goals and four assists … He is eighth in the conference in points and ninth in the conference in goals.
 
Protecting the Net: Senior Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) has started eight games for Utica and is second in the conference in saves (47) and save percentage (.783). 
 
Scouting Elmira: The Soaring Eagles are 2-4-2 overall with a 0-0-2 Empire 8 record … Elmira is coming off of a 3-3 tie against Alfred University … The Soaring Eagles are led by Michael Bryant's 17 points (eight goals, one assist).
 
Against the Soaring Eagles: UC is 3-2 against Elmira over the last five years …  The Pioneers have won the last two match ups against the Soaring Eagles.
 
Looking Ahead: Utica College's next game will be at home in non-conference action against Morrisville State College … The game is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Social Media: Make sure to follow live updates of all the action on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers ... Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.
 
Live Video: If you can't make it to the game make sure to watch it online at - http://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.