ELMIRA, NY- The Utica College men's soccer team dropped its Empire 8 Conference opener, 6-1, to host Elmira College on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first half and added another tally in the second half to improve to 2-2-1 (1-0 Empire 8) on the season.  Michael Bryant totaled two goals and added two assists to lead the home team.
 
Freshman Connor Herbst (Macedon, NY/Palmyra-Macedon) was able to get Utica on the board in the 52^nd minute as he headed in a free kick from Patrick Claffey (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) for his first collegiate goal.  Austyn Diller (Tappan, NY/Tappan Zee ) and Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) combined for 10 saves in net for Utica, while Haruka Okamoto had one save for Elmira.
 
UC will remain on the road Tuesday as it travels to Geneva, NY to take on Hobart College.  Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.