ALFRED, NY - Utica University's men's soccer traveled to face the Alfred University Saxons, drawing with their Empire 8 opponents 2-2. The Pioneers scored with less than five minutes left in the game to avoid the loss in a high-action affair. Both teams combined for totals of 41 shots, 30 fouls, and 11 corner kicks. Utica now sits 6-3-3 overall this season, holding a 3-1-3 record within the conference. Alfred U. has played to a 4-6-3 overall record and a 2-3-2 record in the E8.

Each of Utica's goals were scored by a different player, both of them unassisted. Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) scored the tying goal late in the game for the Pioneers. Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) added to his season-long total with a penalty kick goal that opened the scoring. Mugushu led the team with four shots on goal, joined by Cavallo and Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) as the only other players with multiple shots on goal. Asim Gacic (Utica, NY/Mohawk Valley Community College (NJCAA)) started his second consecutive game, making two saves and allowing two goals, one of them on a penalty kick. 

Alfred also had two separate goal scorers, with one assist tallied as well. Xavier Bowman netted a penalty kick and Christian Martinez scored for the Saxons, with AJ Giaquinto assisting on Martinez's goal. The home squad combined for four shots on goal, each by a separate player. Tyler Mulholland saw consistent pressure in net for the Saxons, saving seven of his nine shots seen.

Utica struck first in the contest, scoring on a penalty kick in the final seconds of the first half. The Pioneers were mounting an offensive attack, with Mugushu eventually gaining control near the top corner of the penalty area. As he attempted to beat the defender to the outside, a slide tackle by an Alfred defender knocked him to the ground inside the penalty area. The Pioneers were awarded the penalty kick attempt, and the Alfred defender was assessed a yellow card with just 11 seconds remaining in the half. Mugushu took the penalty kick and beat the Saxon keeper to the lower left corner of the net. With the goal, Mugushu has now tied the program record for points in a career.

The Saxons struck back 13:26 into the second half on a penalty kick goal of their own. The teams fought for possession in the midfield before an Alfred player quickly chipped a beautiful pass over the Utica defenders. Saxon midfielder Hamza Kromah was about to gain possession of the ball for a one-on-one attempt with Utica's keeper, but was instead pushed to the ground, earning the Saxons the penalty kick attempt. Bowman took the kick for Alfred, avoiding Gacic and finding another lower-left corner goal.

Alfred took their own lead at the 75:13 mark off a corner kick. Rodrigo Perez took the kick, finding Giaquinto in the back corner of the penalty area, who headed the ball back towards the scrum in front of the net, finding the head of Martinez and redirecting into the top left corner of the goal.

Utica tied the game with just 4:40 left to avoid the defeat. The Pioneers mounted consistent offensive pressure, with Cavallo eventually finding a lane for the tying goal. Utica owned the final few minutes of the game, including taking four shots in the final 22 seconds, but could not break the 2-2 score.

Utica will travel to Oneonta on Wednesday, the 15th, for a 6:30 pm bout with Hartwick College. The squad will return to Laura M. Casamento Field next weekend on Saturday, October 18th, to host Nazareth University in a 4:00 pm match.