Utica, NY –The Utica College men's soccer team dropped to 9-6-1 on the year with a 2-1 loss to Alfred on the road Saturday night.
 
The Pioneers notched the first goal of the match in the 49^th minute of this contest, when senior Adnan Bakalovic (Utica, NY/Proctor High School) found the back of the net for the second time this season. Freshman Jhonny Theze (Bronx, NY/Claremont International) was credited with the assist to total 19 points on the season, which is good for fourth in the league and the most among E8 freshmen.
 
Saif Alseyofi led the comeback surge for Alfred, posting the final two goals of the game to give the Saxons a 2-1 lead that they would hold for the duration.
 
Sophomore Chris Rosato (Roxbury, CT/Nonnewaug) made his first-career start in the net for the Pioneers, and he finished the match with five saves.
 
This loss knocks the Pioneers down to 2-3-1 in the Empire 8, one point removed from the second-placed Elmira Eagles. The Pioneers have completed their conference schedule, and they will wait to see if they have clinched a spot in the postseason pending other E8 competition.
 
UC returns home next Saturday for senior day against the Hartwick Hawks. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.