UTICA, NY - Backed by early offense and strong defense throughout the game, the Utica College men's soccer team blanked Keuka College 3-0 at home on Wednesday night. 
 
Utica applied pressure early in the game, firing off the first two shots in the opening eight minutes before Ramazani Juma (Utica, NY/Proctor) found the back of the net in the 11th minute off of a Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) assist to give UC a 1-0 lead. 
 
In the 19th minute, Jacob Sherline (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) fired the ball down field to a wide open Juma who beat the goalkeeper for his second goal of the game and his third of the season, bringing the score to 2-0 in favor of the Pioneers. 
 
Sory Konate (Harlem, NY/Forsyth Satellite Academy) then connected for his fourth goal of the season in the 30th minute off of a Nick Webster (Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma) pass to take a convincing 3-0 lead. From there, the Pioneers failed to score again however, they kept offensive control throughout the remainder of the first period as well as the entire second period, outshooting Keuka 20-5 on the game, including 10-2 in the second period. 
 
Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) recorded four saves in 72 minutes on his way to his fifth win of the season while Eduardo Paez (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) made one save in 17 minutes in goal for UC. Juma attempted a team high four shots while Konate, Brady Maloney (Ellisburg, NY/Bellville Henderson), Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) and Michael Bernardo (Bayshore, NY/Bayshore ) each attempted two shots. 
 
UC (7-5-2, 4-2 Empire 8) will travel to Albany on Saturday for a 6 p.m. game against the Sage Gators.