Utica, NY – The Utica College men's soccer team netted three goals in the first 4:45 of the contest on its way to a 3-3 tie against visiting Houghton College in Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Saturday night. Houghton netted three unanswered goals including the game-tying goal in the 75th minute to force the 3-3 double overtime tie.

The Pioneers record moved to 2-10-1 overall and 1-3-1 in Empire 8 play. UC handed Houghton its first blemish in Empire 8 play as the Highlanders conference ledger moved to 4-0-1 (8-2-3 overall).

The Pioneers were outshot 35-15 on the afternoon, but goalie Matthew Milograno (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) stopped a career-high 19 shots, including a key penalty kick shot with just under 18 minutes to go in regulation, to help preserve a 3-3 tie.

Utica senior Owen Gillam (Bristol, CT/Bristol) netted two goals in the first 4:45 of the contest to help push the Pioneers to a quick 3-0 lead. Gillam now has four goals in his last four games and leads UC with five goals this season. Gillam's first tally of the contest came from 30 yards out off a free kick and ricocheted off the far post to give Utica a 1-0 lead 46 seconds into the contest. 

Freshman Thomas Muller (Camillus, NY/Bishop Ludden) gave Utica a 2-0 lead at the 3:10 mark of the game when he netted his third goal of the season, off an assist from Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia).  Gazashvili and Gillam are now tied for the team lead with 11 points each. 

Gillam scored his second goal of the evening at the 4:45 marker off a penalty kick to give the Pioneers a commanding 3-0 lead early in the contest. 

Houghton netted its first goal of the game at 10:40, from the foot of Jordan Mullen, to make it a 3-1 contest.  The Pioneer defense held strong for the remainder of the first half and the Pioneers went into the half with a 3-1 advantage.

The Highlanders added two goals in a span of 2:04 late in the contest to knot the score at 3-3. 

Landon Sheaffer made it a 3-2 game at 73:07, while Mullen added his second goal of the night at 75:11 to force overtime. 

Both team were held scoreless in two 10 minute overtime periods and the contest ended in a 3-3 tie. 

Utica returns to the pitch on Wednesday when it travels to Canton to take on the Kangaroos at 6 p.m.