UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's soccer squad hosted the Nazareth Golden Flyers, tying with the visitors in a 1-1 game. In a defensive battle, freshman
Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland) scored with 2:43 left to even the score. Utica has now played to a 7-3-4 overall record, with a 4-1-4 record in the Empire 8. Nazareth now sits at a 6-4-3 overall record, 4-3-1 in the E8. Utica currently has 16 points in the standings, two less than third-place Elmira, who has clinched an E8 tournament berth, and three more than Nazareth in 5th.
Cookinham scored the late goal for the Pioneers. His evener was assisted by
Martin Mendoza (Walden, NY/The Mount Academy) and
Justin Clarke (East Setauket, NY/Ward-Melville).
Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) was the only Utica player with multiple shots on goal, taking two of the Pioneers' six total.
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) played in net for Utica, allowing a goal in the only shot on goal he saw. Despite the low totals in the box score, Accetta stayed heavily involved with the ball on the defensive half.
Samuel Burton scored the lone Nazareth goal unassisted. His score was the only shot on goal of the game for the Golden Flyers. Bryan Tirado minded the net for the visitors, stopping five of six shots that came his way.
Burton struck first to open the scoring at the 32:10 mark. The Golden Flyers were mounting a consistent attack. A Utica defender attempted to clear the defensive zone, sending the ball to a waiting Burton who sent a shot into the very rop-right corner of the net.
With just under three minutes left in the contest, the Pioneers struck to avoid defeat. A Nazareth defender was assessed a yellow card in the midfield, giving Utica a free kick opportunity. With the offense pushed up aggressively, Clarke booted the ball to start play again. Mendoza received the ball in the box, heading it out in front of Cookinham, who blasted home a goal into the upper right from close inside.
The Pioneers will stay home for their next game, scheduled for 7:00 pm on Wednesday, the 22nd, against Hamilton. This will be the final full week of regular season play.
