UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's soccer team fell to the Houghton University Highlanders 3-2 on Saturday afternoon to conclude the regular season.
 
The first half was quiet and saw the teams battling for possession as the two combined for 12 shots. Utica had two corner kicks within the first eight minutes and had a few opportunities yet could not convert. The Pioneers were pressing and Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) fired in a corner kick and Fred Holmes (Newmarket, NH/Newmarket HS) was shoved resulting in a penalty kick for Utica. Baker-Green tucked the ball in the bottom right corner to give the Pioneers a 1-0 edge. The teams combined for five corner kicks in the final ten minutes, yet the score remained 1-0 Utica entering the half.
 
The second half was much more fast paced as the scoring floodgates opened. In the 69th minute Houghton tied the game at 1-1 off a free kick from just outside the box. The Pioneers started to push up field yet the Highlanders intercepted the ball and ran down the field to earn a corner kick. The Highlanders were able to score directly off of the corner kick and take a 2-1 advantage. Just one minute later in the 75th minute, the Highlanders netted another goal for a 3-1 lead. The Pioneers started to push down field and Baker-Green netted a beautiful goal off a free kick to cut the lead to 3-2. Utica's offense kept firing off shots as Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) and Austin McCarthy (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) recorded attempts. In the 87th minute Brady Maloney (Ellisburg, NY/Bellville Henderson) delivered a terrific long free kick from nearly half field that bounced around in the box before going off a Highlander defender to even the game at 3-3. Yet, Houghton would respond with a game winning goal in the 89th minute to win the game 4-3.
 
Utica's offense was firing today as Mugushu, Baker-Green, and Noah Scranton each recorded at least three shots. Baker-Green netted a pair of goals to give him an outstanding 13 for the season. In net, Eduardo Paez (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) recorded two saves during the match.
 
Utica (7-8-1, 4-4-1 Empire 8) will begin the Empire 8 postseason on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against Nazareth.