UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's soccer team opens up a three game road trip on Wednesday night when the Pioneers travel to Cazenovia College to take on the Wildcats at 4:30 p.m.

CATCHING THEIR STRIDE: Utica has now won two of its last three games headed into Wednesday's non-conference contest against Cazenovia … The Pioneers are 2-4 overall on the year … UC looks to pick up its first road victory of the season on Wednesday. 

LAST TIME OUT: UC scored all three of its goals in a span of just 6:21 late in the first half of play to earn a 3-1 victory over visiting Wells College on Sunday night at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium … UC sophomore Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia) tied his career-high with two goals in a span of 4:21, including his second goal of the day with six seconds left on the first half clock to help the Pioneers down the Express.

FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE: The Cazenovia athletics communications office is offering live video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1euis3bSkU) and stats (http://www.sidearmstats.com/cazcollege/msoc/) for Wednesday night's contest.

ONE MORE GOAL: Senior Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) currently has 25 goals and needs one more goal to tie the school-record for career goals which is currently held by Evan Dufault '07 and Kevin McAllister '13 ... Ruffing now has 57 career points (25 goals, seven assists) and needs six more points to move into sole possession of third place on the College's all-time list … The school record for career points is currently held by Evan Dufault, who registered 74 points in three seasons with the Pioneers … So far this season Ruffing has two goals and one assist.

LIGHTING UP THE STAT SHEET: Sophomore Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia) currently ranks fourth in the Empire 8 Conference and leads the team with seven points (two goals, three assists) … His three assists are also tied for the league lead … He has at least one point in four of six games this year … Sunday was the first time he did not start this season and he came off the bench and netted his first two goals of the year. 

CLAFFEY EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Junior Patrick Claffey (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) was named the Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after his performance in a 2-1 week for the Pioneers … Claffey netted his first collegiate goal and also added an assist on the game-winner as the Pioneers topped visiting SUNY Poly 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon …Claffey also helped the Pioneer defense hold its opponents to just four goals in three games.

TEAM STATS: Utica currently ranks third in the Empire 8 with an average of 4.00 points per game … UC's eight total goals also rank third in the conference … UC's eight assists rank second in the E8 … Goalie Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) ranks second in the conference with 30 saves this year. 

AGAINST CAZENOVIA: The Pioneers are 10-1 against Cazenovia dating back to 2002 … UC has outscored the Wildcats 47-9 in that stretch and they have posted six shut out victories … The last time UC lost to Cazenovia was in overtime on the road in 2012 by the score of 3-2.

MEET THE WILDCATS: Cazenovia is currently 1-2 overall and the Wildcats are coming off a 2-1 victory over SUNY ESF at home on Friday … They are led by Turner Antonakos and Jordan Davis, who each have one goal and one assist this season. 

EMPIRE 8 OPENER: Utica opens up Empire 8 Conference play on Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Pioneers travel Ithaca College to take on the Bombers in a rematch of last year's Empire 8 Conference tournament semifinals … The Pioneers will look  to avenge two 1-0 losses at the hands of the Bombers last season. 

SOCIAL MEDIA: Make sure to follow live updates of all the action on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers … If you are at the games and on Twitter, or talking about the games 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.