ALBANY, NY - The Utica University men's soccer team picked up a huge 3-0 conference win against the Russell Sage Gators on Wednesday evening.
 
Martin Mendoza (Walden, NY/The Mount Academy) had a fantastic night, scoring two goals and both coming in the first 32 minutes of play. Anderson Velazquez (Norwood, NY/Marble Hill) scored Utica's first goal only three minutes into the match.
 
Marcos Gadea (/) and Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Barker) each had one assist, while three players had at least one shot: Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point), Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) and Brady Barnard (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool).
 
Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) started in the net for the Pioneers, making four saves, two in the first half and two in the second.
 
Velazquez opened the scoring for Utica with an assist from Gadea, giving the Pioneers an early 1-0 advantage. Only seven minutes later, Mendoza struck for Utica, taking a 2-0 lead with 35 minutes left in the first half. With 31:08 to play, Mendoza tallied his second goal of the match as he currently leads Utica with four with eight shots on goal.
 
Sage had four shots in the first half compared to Utica's 10.
 
No goals were scored in the second half and only nine shots were let off. The Pioneers went on to win 3-0.
 
Utica (2-4-6, 1-2-3 Empire 8) hosts Alfred University on Saturday, October 12 at 1 p.m. The match will be played at Laura M. Casamento Field.