UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's soccer team is set for a two-match week featuring a road contest against Hobart College on Tuesday, October 17 at 4 p.m. before traveling to face Alfred University on Saturday, October 21 at 4:30 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Hobart will provide live video here with live stats available here and the ability to listen here. Alfred will provide live video and stats here.
 
Last Time Out: The team tied with Empire 8 opponent Houghton University on Saturday afternoon with a final score of 1-1. Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) netted his second goal of the season in what was Utica's lone goal of the afternoon. Utica outshot the Highlanders 13-7 and held the advantage of shots on goal, 7-4. Houghton drew six of their seven corner kicks in the second half, holding the advantage over Utica 7-5. Ryan Ching (Temple City, CA/Temple City) led the Pioneers with three shots while Anderson Velazquez (Norwood, NY/Marble Hill), Brady Barnard (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), and Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) each had two. Eduardo Paez (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) played well in net making three saves and allowing just one goal on the afternoon. Houghton would strike first in the 26th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. It wasn't until the 46th minute at the beginning of a rainy second half that the Pioneers would strike back, thanks to a penalty kick goal by Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley). This was the senior's second goal of the season and was a timely goal for the team knotting the contest at 1-1. The score of 1-1 would hold as both teams played strong defense down the stretch to each collect an Empire 8 point.
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers are fourth in the Empire 8 standings with three games remaining in the regular season, including two conference matchups against Alfred University and Keuka College. The team ranks fourth in the conference in shots averaging 12.31 per game including 5.85 on goal. The consistent pressure by Utica has allowed the team to create plenty of scoring opportunities lately and has guided the team to two goals in its last two matches.
 
Staying in Form: Utica is in great form recording one win and draw in its last two matches and is playing its best soccer down the final stretch of the regular season. The team's remaining Empire 8 conference opponents are Alfred and Keuka who hold the last two spots in the Empire 8 standings. The team will look to continue playing well and climb the conference standings before the regular season concludes.
 
Making their Impact: Young Pioneers have been making an immediate impact all season yet have really stepped it up as of late. Ryan Ching (Temple City, CA/Temple City) and Adin Day (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) have been playing well over the past two matches. Ching has recorded four shots over his past two matches while Day had himself a game over Russell Sage tallying three shots with a fantastic game-winning goal. The duo has been playing well and look forward to contributing towards the team's playoff push.
 
Looking at Hobart: The Statesmen are 6-5-2 this season and sport a 5-1-1 record in Liberty League play this season. In its last match the team topped Union College 2-0 on Saturday, October 14. Offensively the team is very well balanced with five players having two goals and Quinn Phillips leading the team with three. Phillips, Nolan Fierro, and Marcelo Suarez have been prime facilitators for the team with each recording three assists this season. Guillermo Castaneda Chang is the team's top goaltender sporting a 6-2-1 record this season with 33 saves, a .825 save percentage, and allowing just seven goals this season.
 
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are 4-6-4 this season and sport a 1-3-2 conference record which has them tied for sixth in the conference. The team tied Russell Sage 1-1 on Sunday, October 15 in its last match. The offense is led by Gavin Culley who is a prime goal scoring threat with eight goals this season which ranks third in the conference. Other notable offensive factors include Chase Freeland and Juan Jose Menendez Gutierrez who each have at least eight points this season. Matthew Osmundson is the team's top goaltender and sports a 3-4-3 record with three shutouts, 57 saves, and a .814 save percentage.

Up Next: The team will then return home to host Keuka College in its regular season finale on Wednesday, October 25 at 7 p.m.