UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's soccer team drew 1-1 with the St. John Fisher Cardinals on a rainy Wednesday evening.
 
Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Barker) scored Utica's only goal on a beautiful header off a corner. Anderson Velazquez (Norwood, NY/Marble Hill) led Utica with three shots, one of which was on goal. Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast) and Maximilian Pawlowski (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) had Utica's other two shots.
 
Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) started in goal, making eight saves while collecting five in the second half.
 
The Pioneers struck first only nine minutes into the first half as Pawlowski fed Smith off a corner, giving Utica an early 1-0 advantage. Smith's header came in the middle of a scrum, as he tallied his second goal in three games. Both teams went back-and-forth the rest of the half, combining for nine shots in 45 minutes of play.
 
Utica and Fisher applied pressure in the second half combining for 13 shots. Fisher scored 15 minutes into the half. Jacob McGinnis was assisted by Trevor Heschke tying the match 1-1. Velazquez blasted off a shot from just outside the box, nearly hitting the back of the net. The match would ultimately end in a 1-1 draw.
 
Utica (1-2-5, 0-0-2 Empire 8) travels to Elmira College on Saturday, September 28 at 1 p.m.