UTICA, NY - A late second half comeback attempt proved to not be enough for the Utica University men's soccer team after falling to its crosstown foe SUNY Poly Wildcats 4-3 on Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Wildcats opened the scoring with a 35th minute tally off the foot of Christian Toma for a 1-0 advantage which they would carry into halftime. 
 
Poly used second half goals in the 61st minute and 74th minute to take control of the game at 3-0. However, Michael Bernardo (Bayshore, NY/Bayshore) capitalized on a Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) pass in the 79th minute for the Pioneers' first goal of the game to come within two scores at 3-1. 
 
The home team responded to regain a three-goal lead with a strike near the end of the 84th minute. Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) did his best to mount an extraordinary charge in the waning minutes after unassisted goals in the 87th and 89th minutes however, Utica ran out of time as Poly held on for the win. 
 
Musgushu attempted four of the Pioneers' 17 shots, including three of the team's seven on goal. Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast ) and Baker-Green recorded three shot attempts as well. Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) also had four saves to his credit on the afternoon. 
 
Utica (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) will turn around and travel to SUNY Cobleskill on Sunday for a noon matinee against the Fighting Tigers.