HOUGHTON, NY - Despite a strong second half comeback made by the Utica College men's soccer team, the Pioneers were outlasted by the Houghton Highlanders in overtime of the conference semifinals, 4-3. 
 
The Highlanders struck first in the 11th minute when Alex Kalivoda connected with Julius Klohr who got the ball past Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) for a 1-0 advantage. Houghton doubled its lead in the 27th minute after Isaiah Miller found the back of the net as the score would remain 2-0 until halftime. Shots were 6-2 in favor of the Highlanders in the first period. 
 
Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) started the Pioneers' comeback in the 56th minute with an unassisted goal, his third of the season, to make it a 2-1 game in favor of Houghton. Then with 28 minutes left in the game, Mugushu sent through the equalizer on a rocket to the bottom left corner of the net to double his season goal total in the span of six minutes. 
 
Mugushu nearly had a hat trick on a similar shot three minutes after he scored his second goal of the night however, the ball hit off of the left post and deflected back towards the defense. The sophomore tried once more a minute later but Houghton goalkeeper, Sam Carpenter, made the save. 
 
With the score still deadlocked at two and under ten minutes remaining, Gian Rodriguez (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Northwood) capped off the epic second half comeback with a goal not long after a Jahren James (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) corner kick to give the Pioneers its first lead of the game at 3-2.
 
However, with 1:44 left in regulation, Andy Loomis evened the score at three on a laser from the far side of the field that lifted over the head and outstretched arm of Xidias that would eventually send the game into overtime. 
 
UC had an excellent chance to score in the initial extra frame on a two-on-none break but the shot by Mugushu was reeled in by Carpenter. On the next Utica attempt 30 seconds later, Mugushu also had another great look at the net on a header that was also saved by Carpenter. 
 
With 2:09 left in overtime, the Highlanders ended the Pioneers' run at completing its wild second half comeback. With the box packed on offense, Oscar Palacios set Loomis up on a tailing pass towards goal that was missed and rebounded in by Caleb Bailey to send Houghton to the conference championship game against Nazareth. 
 
UC outshot Houghton over the course of the game, 14-13, while Mugushu accounted for half (seven) of the Pioneers' attempts. Sory Konate (Harlem, NY/Forsyth Satellite Academy) and Colin McCarthy (Vestal, NY/Vestal) each took two shots while in goal, Xidias recorded seven saves to wrap up an all-conference type of season for the sophomore. 
 
Utica, after reaching the conference semifinals for the first time since 2014, ends the season with an overall record of 9-7-1.