Schenectady, NY – The Utica College men's soccer team dropped a tough season opening decision, 5-0, at Union College in the opening round of the Union College Classic on Thursday night.  The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday when they wrap up tournament play against RPI at 3:30 p.m.

The Dutchmen led 1-0 early on in the contest and pulled away with three goals in a span of less than four minutes midway through the first half to take a 4-0 lead into the intermission.  The home team then added an insurance goal in the 56^th minute to seal the victory.

Utica goalie Matthew Milograno (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) stopped seven shots in the loss. Thomas Muller (Camillus, NY/Bishop Ludden), Joseph Hunter (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh) and Jordan Smith (Tolland, CT/Tolland) each registered one shot on goal for the Pioneers.

Union's Salvador Lopez Jr. led the way with two goals and one assist, while Ethan Strauss also added one goal and one assist, Andrew Fontaine posted one goal and two assist for the Dutchmen.