UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's soccer team hits the road to take on Empire 8 Conference opponent Houghton College on Saturday. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Last Time Out: The Pioneers dropped an Empire 8 matchup 3-1 against ranked Stevens on Friday … The Ducks scored in the first three minutes of play for their only goal of the half … In the second half Stevens netted two goals in the first 10 minutes of the half to take a commanding 3-0 lead … The Pioneers all-time leading goal scorer Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) became the all-time points leader when he netted his 10^th goal of the season in the 74^th minute to lessen the lead to two … UC had a few more opportunities but couldn't hit the back of the net again.

Another Record Falls: Ruffing broke his second Utica College record of the year with his goal against Stevens … He leads the team in points (24), goals (10), and is second on the team in assists (4) … Ruffing is fifth in the conference in shots (56), average shots per game (3.50), points (24), and points per game (1.50) … He is tied for third in the conference in goals (10), while being ranked fourth in the conference in goals per game (.625).

In The Net: Sophomore Matthew Milograno (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) has appeared in eight games while starting in seven including the last four … Milograno has 41 saves and a save percentage of 0.719 … Senior Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) has appeared in and started 10 games for UC … Hallett has 52 saves and a save percentage of 0.722.

Team Effort: The Pioneers have 16 players with at least one point on the year … Peyton LaReaux (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) is third on the team with eight points off of three goals and two assists … Patrick Claffey (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) is fourth on the team with six points off of two goals and two assists … Jordan Senay (Lockport, NY/Lockport) and Raine Owens (Pine Plains, NY/Stissing Mt. ) each have four points off of one goal and two assists … Justin Schray (Oxford, NY/Oxford), Marcel Dupuis (Hannacroix, NY/Greenville), and Matt Beljan (Bedminster, PA/Christopher Dock) each have three points off of one goal and one assist.

Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders are 8-6-2 overall and 3-2-1 in Empire 8 play … Houghton is on a two game win streak defeating Alfred 2-1 in overtime and Lancaster Bible 5-0 … The Highlanders are led by Ben Lawrence (15 points off of six goals and three assists), Jordan Mullen (12 points off of six goals), and Jacob Dunnett (56 saves and a .718 save percentage).

Head to Head Against The Highlanders: The Pioneers are 1-1-1 against Houghton over the last five years … UC beat the Highlanders 2-1 last year, fell to Houghton 1-0 in 2013 and tied 2-2 in 2012.