Utica, NY - Despite leading the Morrisville State Mustangs in nearly every offensive category, the Utica College men's soccer team lost for the first time this season on Saturday. The Pioneers were defeated by a score of 2-1 in overtime.

After starting the season with back-to-back 3-2 wins over SUNY Poly and SUNY-Delhi, the Pioneers fall to 2-1 with this loss. This match kicked off the Utica College Invitational, a four-team tournament that also includes SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY New Paltz.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, as sophomore midfielder Jahren James (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) recorded his first career goal on a rebound goal off a free kick from senior Adnan Bakalovic (Utica, NY/Proctor High School) in the 28th minute. Bakalovic hooked the ball past a multi-man wall applied by the Mustangs and rang it off the woodwork, before it came across to James for the finish.  UC held onto this lead for the rest of the half.

Morrisville State evened the match in the 63rd minute on a Teo Chavez goal assisted by Ralph Andre. The two teams battled back and forth for the rest of regulation and neither team could find the back of the net, forcing the first overtime match of the year for the Pioneers.

The Mustangs ended it in the 95th minute on a Ralph Andre goal that was redirected off a free kick from Ehdah Ler.

Utica held the advantage in shots with 16, and corner kicks in the match with 14 in total. 

Utica has a quick turnaround as they are slated to meet Cobleskill tomorrow at noon. Cobleskill was a 2-0 winner over New Paltz in the other match to take place on the Gaetano Stadium turf on Saturday.