UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's soccer team began Empire 8 Conference action with 3-0 win over the Alfred University Saxons at home on Saturday. 
 
The Pioneers started the first half pushing the pace, keeping Alfred away from its offensive end. Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) drew first blood for Utica after his initial shot attempt was saved by Saxons goalkeeper Jon Nadolne before gathering the ball with nothing but daylight ahead and finding the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage. 
 
Mugushu would not be satisfied with one goal for his stat line. In the 39th minute, Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast ) hit Mugushu in stride as he sped past Nadolne and avoided a sliding stop attempt by an Alfred defender for his fifth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers out-shot the Saxons 13-4 in the first half while drawing three corner kicks to one by the visiting team. 
 
Utica remained in control offensively in the second half, out-shooting Alfred 12-8 while finishing with a 4-0 edge in corner kicks. The final Utica goal came on a Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) penalty kick conversion, his second in as many games and his fifth goal of the season, which gave the team a 3-0 lead in the 52nd minute. 
 
Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) recorded his first shutout of the year while recording four saves. Mugushu accounted for a team-high seven shot attempts as well as four shots on goal followed by Brady Barnard (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) with five attempts and four out of Nassberg and Baker-Green each. As a unit, Utica out-shot Alfred 25-14 including 14-4 on goal. 
 
Utica (4-1, 1-0 Empire 8) will have a week off before hosting Medaille University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 for the first-ever meeting between the new Empire 8 Conference foes.