WENHAM, MA – The Utica College men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision to host Gordon College in the first round of the North Shore Invitational on Friday night. UC returns to action on Saturday when the Pioneers travel to nearby Endicott College to take on the Gulls at 5 p.m.
Utica captain
Justin Schray (Oxford, NY/Oxford) netted the lone goal for the Pioneers – the first of his collegiate career -- to make it a 2-1 game at the 20:44 marker, but that was as close as the Pioneers would get.
Gordon netted all three of its goals in the first half of play. Evan Crocker and Ian Burkhart each tallied a goal just over two minutes apart to give the Scots an early 2-0 lead in the contest. Gordon's Andy Guthrie added a penalty kick goal in the 26
th minute to give the home squad a 3-1 advantage in the first half.
Gordon was able to hold onto to the 3-1 lead for the entire second half to earn the victory. UC goalie
Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) stopped five shots as the Pioneers' record moved to 0-2 on the year.
Endicott College – UC's opponent on Saturday – is led by former Pioneer coach Joe Calabrese.