UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's soccer team opened up Empire 8 play on Saturday against the Elmira College Soaring Eagles in a match that ended in a scoreless draw. 
 
Both teams had three shots on goal in the contest while Nicholas Theimer (Flagstaff, AZ/Flagstaff) had two for the Pioneers and Cody Baker-Green (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) had one. Utica led total shots 10-8. Eduardo Paez (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) totaled three saves in goal for the Pioneers. In what was a chippy contest, Elmira committed 16 fouls to Utica's 11 and drew a pair of yellow cards to one for the Pioneers (Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast), 27th minute). 
 
Utica outshot the Soaring Eagles 8-2 in the first half and drew three corners to one for Elmira over the first 45 minutes of play but could not find the back of the net. Elmira gained more momentum in its offensive zone in the second half, leading shots 6-2. 
 
The Pioneers' scoring chances in the first came on a shot by Baker-Green in the 19th minute as well as a header by Theimer in the 35th minute. Theimer had the team's lone shot on goal in the second half which came in the 64th minute. 
 
Utica (2-3-1, 0-0-1 Empire 8) will travel to SUNY Delhi on Tuesday, September 19 to face the Broncos at 4 p.m.