UTICA, NY - The Utica College men's soccer team improved its start to 2-0 on Sunday. In the squad's 2019 home opener, the Pioneers overcame an early free kick goal by the visitors with three straight goals, and repelled a late comeback attempt as they dropped visiting SUNY Delhi by a 3-2 score at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.

Freshman Connor McQuillan (Rochester, NY/Brighton) led Utica with a goal and an assist, while graduate transfer Adnan Bakalovic (Utica, NY/Proctor High School) chipped in a pair of assists for the Pioneers. Randy Miksch (Lake Villa, IL/Warren Township) made two saves in goal for his second win of the season. Utica outshot the Broncos on goal 13-4.

An even handed start saw the teams trade chances, but the visiting Broncos would grab hold of the early lead. Delhi was awarded a free kick from straight away, and striker Brody Rettle sent it to the frame and scored to put the Broncos up 1-0.

The Delhi lead would last until the 28th minute, when a vital 7-0 first half advantage in corner kicks came to benefit the Pioneers. Bakalovic put the ball in play on one of those corners, and the firmly struck ball landed to McQuillan at the left post for the finish as the Pioneers returned to level terms on the scoreboard. The goal was the first of McQuillan's collegiate career. The 1-1 tie carried over into halftime. 

The Pioneers came out surging in the second half, generating numerous vital opportunities to net the important go-ahead goal. Of note in that stretch was a penalty kick opportunity for Bakalovic in the 49th minute. The Utica native delivered a ferocious strike, but Delhi keeper Corey O'Toole made a correct guess on the direction of the shot and made the preemptive save to keep the game level.

Utica persisted on the attack, and that persistence paid off into a lead in the 56th minute. Tucker Marvin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) nailed down his second goal of the weekend with a low shot from the top of the 18 yard box that rumbled into the back of the net to pull Utica ahead 2-1.

The Pioneers grabbed the lead, but were not done yet offensively. A one goal lead quickly doubled just over a minute later. In the 57th minute, McQuillan took a shot that rebounded right to freshman Jhonny Theze (Bronx, NY/Claremont International), and Theze rolled it home for the finish for his first collegiate goal to open up a 3-1 lead.

Delhi came up with a lifeline goal in the 72nd minute from Anthony Cuellar, but the Pioneers held the ball a majority of the time the rest of the way en route to an impressive 16 shots taken in the second half. That possession would aid the Pioneer cause as Utica held on to collect the winning result.

The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, September 7th as they host Morrisville on the first day of the Utica College Invitational. Match time is set for 11 a.m.