UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's soccer faced off with the Russell Sage Gators, defeating the visitors by a score of 3-0. Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) scored all three goals at the bookends of the game as Utica claimed its second clean sheet of the season. The orange and blue now climbs to 6-3-2 overall this season, holding a 3-1-2 record in the Empire 8. Russell Sage now drops to 6-4-2 overall, with a 1-3-2 conference record.

Mugushu dominated for the Pioneers, ending the night with six more points on his team-leading metric. Two other Utica players tallied points, as both Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) and Jalen Lucero (Albuquerque, NM/Higley) were credited with primary assists. Schweitzer also was credited with two shots on goal, Utica's only other shots on goal besides Mugushu's scoring plays. Asim Gacic (Utica, NY/Mohawk Valley Community College (NJCAA)) played the entire game in net for the Pioneers, making three saves en route to Utica's second team shutout, but the first individual shutout. 

The Gators were held scoreless in their fifth consecutive game and held to just three shots on goal in the contest. Anthony Geis, John Whalen, and Joel Tshiamala each took one of the shots on goal. Mateja Milutin played in net for Russell Sage, making two saves.

The Pioneers took control of the game quickly, as Mugushu started his day by scoring just 5:49 into the game. Just a few minutes later, at the 8:29 mark, an inside pass by Schweitzer gave Mugushu his second of the day and allowed Utica to control the pace. As the game progressed, Russell Sage applied more and more pressure until Mugushu sealed both the game and his hat trick with a goal just under 84 minutes into the game. With the Gators pushing high up the pitch in their comeback effort, a Utica counterattack found them weak in their own defensive half. Lucero assisted on Mugushu's third goal, the final of the day.

Utica will travel to Alfred University on Saturday, the 11th, for a 1:00 pm bout with the Saxons. The squad will return to Laura M. Casamento Field on Saturday, October 18th, to host the Nazareth University Golden Flyers in a 1:00 pm match.