UTICA, NY – Utica men's soccer senior Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia/) netted the game's first and last goals as the Pioneers worked a 3-3 double overtime tie against host Houghton College in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday. 

Gazashvili netted the first goal of the game just 2:03 into the contest when he headed home a cross from Connor Nolte (Cohoes, NY/Shaker) to put the Pioneers on top 1-0 early. Gazashvili then added his second of the day with 10:29 left in regulation off an assist from Thomas Muller (Camillus, NY/Bishop Ludden) to force overtime and an eventual tie. 

UC outshot the home team 6-5 in the second overtime period but neither team could find the back of the next in extra time as the final horn sounded with the scored tied at 3-3.

After the early goal by Gazashvili, the Pioneers found themselves in a 2-1 hole until Julian Fonseca (Rocky Hill, CT/Bridgton) netted his fourth goal of the season to tie the score at 2-2 in the 57th minute. Fonseca remains the team leader with 18 points this season (four goals, 10 assists).

Houghton took the lead back in the 67th minute when Ben Munkittrick scored off an assist from Ben Lawrence to give the Highlanders a 3-2 lead at 67:40. 

Utica's Thomas Muller (Camillus, NY/Bishop Ludden) finished the day with two assists, marking the first assist of his young collegiate career. Muller now ranks second on the team with 10 points this season (four goals, two assists).

Utica goalie Jonathan Side (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) stopped 10 shots in 110:00 of action. Goalie Jordan Crouch made seven saves for the Highlanders (6-8-2, 1-4-1 Empire 8).

The Pioneers have went into double overtime in three consecutive contests as their record moved to 6-9-2 overall and 0-4-2 in conference play. UC returns to the turf back at home on Tuesday when they host Hobart College for non-conference action at 7 p.m.