MARCY, NY - The Utica College men's soccer team got off on a winning note to begin the 2019 season on Friday. A pair of second half goals gave Utica a 3-1 lead, and they withstood a second SUNY Poly goal in the latter minutes of the contest to nab the away win over the Wildcats by a 3-2 score at Wildcat Field in Marcy.

The Pioneers improve to 1-0 on the young season headed into Sunday's home opener. Utica outshot Poly 10-9, and they held a 6-4 shots advantage on the frame of the goal for the evening. The win was Utica's 24th all-time victory over SUNY Poly.

Utica got goals from Daniel Varsames (Gansevoort, NY/Saratoga Springs), Ethan Thomas (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa), and Tucker Marvin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa). A pair of assists credited to Patrick Hynes (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem) was also a highlight of the evening, as was the first career assist for newcomer Jhonny Theze (Bronx, NY/Claremont International) on the game's opening goal.

That opening goal came in the twentieth minute, when Daniel Varsames (Gansevoort, NY/Saratoga Springs) netted his first career goal at Utica, set up by Theze's first career assist at the 19:16 mark. The Wildcats answered six minutes later when Jamar Gayle scored his first of two goals for Poly to knot the score at one heading into halftime.

Utica began to make its definitive charge to victory just a few minutes into the second half. In the 51st minute of the match, Ethan Thomas (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) scored the go-ahead goal to break the 1-1 tie for what was also his first goal in a Pioneer uniform. Hynes picked up the assist.

The lead doubled to 3-1 in the 67th minute when Tucker Marvin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) found the back of the net. The senior now has three goals in his time at Utica. That lead, however, was put into some peril when Gayle puffed the back of the net for the Wildcats a second time in the 83rd minute. That slashed the advantage back to 3-2, but the Pioneers did not concede anything additional as they walked away with the one goal victory.

Randy Miksch (Lake Villa, IL/Warren Township) made two saves for the Pioneers in goal in four total chances. 

The Pioneers return to action on Sunday as they host SUNY Delhi in their home opener. Match time is slated for 1 p.m.