UTICA, NY - The Pioneers return from Fall Break in rapid fashion this week as the fall programs head down the stretch of Empire 8 play, while the winter teams officially kick off their seasons. Coming off one of the greatest weeks in program history, the men's soccer team looks to continue its recent win streak, while volleyball looks to build on a 4-1 start to Empire 8 play. Field hockey honors its seniors this Saturday, while women's hockey kicks off its 2026-2027 campaign with a weekend exhibition at the Nexus Center. All that, and more, this week at Utica!
 
Catch up on last week's action and get ready for this week's events with our Pioneer Primer!
 
To Read About a Specific Team, Click the Team Below:
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Women's Soccer
Men's Soccer
Volleyball
Women's Ice Hockey
Coming Up Soon
 
Pioneer Athletes of the Week:
Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) - Field Hockey
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) - Men's Soccer


 
This Week in Utica Athletics:
Check out the Composite Schedule for complete schedule details - Link: https://uticapioneers.com/calendar
 
Home games are bolded and highlighted in Orange:
Monday, October 12th
10:00 AM - Men's Golf at Empire 8 Fall Championship | Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club (R2/2)
10:30 AM - Women's Golf at Empire 8 Fall Invitational | Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club (R2/2)
 
Wednesday, October 14th
4:00 PM - Men's Soccer at Russell Sage | ACP Athletic Complex
4:00 PM - Women's Soccer vs Russell Sage | Laura M. Casamento Field
6:00 PM - Field Hockey at Nazareth | NLPA Field
 
Thursday, October 15th
TBA - Men's Golf @ MSMC Invitational | The Powelton Club
TBA - Women's Golf @ MSMC Invitational | The Powelton Club
 
Friday, October 16th
7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Houghton | Miga Court (Fight for the Cure Match)
 
Saturday, October 17th
11:00 AM - Women's Cross Country at Rowan Border Battle
11:45 AM - Men's Cross Country at Rowan Border Battle
12:00 PM - Women's Volleyball at Russell Sage | Kahl Campus Center (Russell Sage Tri-Match)
1:00 PM - Men's Soccer at Nazareth | Golden Flyer Stadium
1:00 PM - Women's Soccer vs Nazareth | Laura M. Casamento Field
2:00 PM - Field Hockey vs SUNY Brockport | ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium
2:00 PM - Women's Hockey vs Lebanon Valley (Exh.) | Utica University Nexus Center
2:30 PM - Women's Volleyball vs St. Lawrence | Kahl Campus Center (Russell Sage Tri-Match)
 
For live streaming and live stats information for all Pioneer matchups visit "This Week's Live Coverage" under the "Inside Athletics" tab at the top of the website, or click this link: https://uticapioneers.com/coverage 
 
WEEKLY PREVIEWS:
 
Cross Country - Utica's men's and women's cross country teams travel to New Jersey this weekend for the annual Rowan Border Battle, hosted by Rowan University.
 
Last Week's Action:
Men: Utica was represented by two runners in Saturday's 8K. Nathan Sand (Beekmantown, NY/Beekmantown) led the Pioneers with a 70th-place finish in 32:37.7, while Joseph Santiago (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) followed closely behind in 74th at 32:50.9. The two seniors finished just 13.2 seconds apart in the 89-runner field.
 
Women: Emma Charboneau (Fultonville, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) paced Utica in the women's 6K, finishing 32nd out of 49 runners with a time of 28:33.6. Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills) followed in 42nd, crossing the finish line in 32:47.3. The Pioneers did not record a team score, with two runners competing in the event.
 
This Week's Schedule:
At Rowan Border Battle - Saturday, October 17th | DREAM Park (Logan Township, NJ)
Women (6k): 11:00 AM
Men (8k): 11:45 AM
 
Trax Fax:

• Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) has finished inside the top five in all three of his appearances this season, winning at SUNY Poly, placing fifth at Hamilton's short-course meet, and finishing second at Fredonia.
• Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) has recorded three top-10 finishes through four appearances, including consecutive runner-up finishes to open the season. He and Melita finished just 13.8 seconds apart at Fredonia, placing seventh and second, respectively.
• Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) has led the Pioneer women in each of her three appearances this season. Her results include a course-record victory at SUNY Poly and a sixth-place finish at Fredonia.
• Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Nicole Arnhold (Hampton, NY/Granville), and Tara Fobare (Sauquoit, NY/New Hartford) scored in each of Utica's first four meets. Arnhold was the team's third finisher at Fredonia, her second time occupying that position this season.
• Rowan begins a stretch of three consecutive Saturdays of competition, followed by another trip to Hamilton and the Empire 8 Championships at SUNY Poly on October 31st.

 
Up Next: Both teams travel to DREAM Park in Logan Township, NJ, for the 11th Annual Rowan Border Battle on Saturday, October 17th. The women's 6K begins at 11:00 AM, followed by the men's 8K at 11:45 AM.
 
Field Hockey - Field Hockey heads out to Nazareth for a massive midweek matchup against the Golden Flyers, before heading home this weekend to honor their seniors with a Saturday showdown against SUNY Brockport. Nazareth and Brockport are two teams that sit firmly on the Pioneers' path to the postseason, meaning that this week could be make or break for an orange and blue lineup that looks to return to the Empire 8 postseason.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Russell Sage | Wednesday, October 7th

• W, 3-2 (Chase - 1g, 1a, Marcantonio - 1g, Reilly - 1g, Spiezio - 2a)

Vs Keuka College | Saturday, October 10th

• W, 9-1 (Benincasa - 2g, 2a, Chase - 2g, 1a, Marcantonio - 1g, 3a, Crayton - 2g)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The Pioneers picked up back-to-back wins in emphatic fashion this past week, taking down Russell Sage 3-2 before dominating Keuka 9-1 to post a 2-0 record and a 12-3 goal margin. The team controlled the pace of play throughout both contests, outshooting their opponents by a total of 40-7 while landing an overwhelming amount of shots on goal, totaling 30 and allowing just six. The Pioneers' aggressive playstyle was capped off by their 24 trips to the penalty corner, allowing opponents to grab just nine attempts from the spot in their two contests.
• Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) was named the Empire 8 Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Week following an outstanding two-game stretch which saw her rack up seven points thanks to two goals and three assists while slotting in as one of the main defensive pieces for the orange and blue squad. Marcantonio achieved her first two career honors, grabbing Pioneer Athlete of the Week in addition to the Empire 8 selection. The Section II product has been absolutely ablaze these past few weeks as she recorded her first career point in game seven and never looked back, gathering points in each of her last five games, grabbing 13 points thanks to four goals and five assists over that span. Marcantonio has been integral on penalty corners from the right marker, grabbing a short insertion pass before blasting the ball on-net. She recorded two goals and an assist using this method against Sage and Keuka.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Nazareth University - Wednesday, October 14th, 6:00 PM | Rochester, NY
Vs SUNY Brockport - Saturday, October 17th, 2:00 PM | Utica, NY - SENIOR DAY
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers have a pair of big conference contests ahead of them this week, facing off against the Empire 8's current #3 team and #8 team in SUNY Brockport and Nazareth, respectively. The orange and blue currently occupy the #6 spot in the Empire 8 standings, which would give them the final Empire 8 tournament spot. This week will be a massive step towards reaching the postseason for the first time since the 2023 season, as the Pioneers look to dispatch a pair of solid foes.
• The orange and blue offense is clicking at the right time, as the team managed to connect on every single score this past week, grabbing 12 assists on 12 goals. Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) led the playmaking effort, picking up a pair of assists in each of the team's two contests while providing pinpoint passing as the Pioneers' corner inserter. Marcantonio was second on the team with three assists, while the pair of Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) and Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) each grabbed two assists.
• Speaking of Chase, the Pioneers' freshman phenom continued her stellar debut season, picking up eight points thanks to three goals and two assists during last week's action. The former Lady Bill leads the team with 18 points, having eight goals and two assists on the season. Chase is tied for fifth in the Empire 8 for goals scored with nine, trailing a trio of players with 11 and Ella Greico, who has 12. She's also tied for eighth in the Empire 8 with 18 points.

Upcoming Opponents:
Nazareth University

• Record: 1-8 (1-3 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Golden Flyers enter Wednesday's matchup looking to get back on track after dropping a 4-0 decision to SUNY Geneseo on October 7. Nazareth opened Empire 8 play with losses to Hartwick, 4-1, and St. John Fisher, 7-1, before breaking through with their first victory of the season on October 3, defeating Elmira, 2-1, behind a pair of goals from Kristina Fisher.
• Stat Leaders: Kristina Fisher leads the Nazareth offense with two goals through the team's first nine games, including both goals in the Golden Flyers' recent victory over Elmira. Hanna Barrett has added one goal, scoring against St. John Fisher, while Lily Kunzman, Chloe Parsons and Addison Edwards have also found the back of the cage this season. Nazareth has yet to record an assist, making individual efforts and opportunities their preferred style of offense. In goal, Ayva Kantor has recorded 43 saves in four appearances, while the Golden Flyers have combined for 91 saves as a team.
• What to Watch For: Nazareth has faced a challenging schedule and has struggled to consistently generate offensive pressure against top-tier opponents, averaging 6.1 shots per game while allowing 23.2 shots per contest. The Golden Flyers have scored just six goals through nine games, but their 2-1 win over Elmira demonstrated their ability to capitalize when opportunities arise. Kristina Fisher scored twice in that victory, making her an important player for the Pioneers to keep track of. The orange and blue will look to dictate the pace of play, generate consistent pressure, and take advantage of their scoring opportunities as they did so well this past week.

SUNY Brockport

• Record: 9-2 (3-1 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Golden Eagles have continued to put together a strong season, winning three straight games after a 4-1 loss to Hartwick on September 26. Brockport responded with a 6-2 victory over Morrisville before earning a hard-fought 2-1 win over Russell Sage on October 2. The Golden Eagles followed that performance with another 2-1 victory over St. John Fisher on October 7. Earlier in the season, Brockport also earned wins over John Carroll, Allegheny, Lycoming, Oswego and Oneonta, while picking up a 7-2 road victory over Elmira. The Golden Eagles' only other loss came against Juniata, 1-0.
• Stat Leaders: Penelope Schalck has led the Brockport attack with eight goals, while Elise Brady has added six goals of her own. Alexis Penree has contributed five goals, and Emily Nestor has recorded three goals and four assists for 10 points. Laela Osinski has been an important playmaker with seven assists, while Terralyn McLaughlin has added two goals and two assists. In goal, Lauren Mastromarco has handled the majority of the workload, recording 33 saves with an .805 save percentage across her first eight appearances. The Golden Eagles have scored 34 goals through 11 games while allowing just 15.
• What to Watch For: Brockport has established itself as one of the Empire 8's most productive offensive teams, averaging 3.1 goals and 15.4 shots per game. Schalck and Brady provide a dangerous scoring combination, while Nestor and Osinski have helped create opportunities for their teammates. The Golden Eagles have also demonstrated strong defensive play, allowing just 1.36 goals per game and recording several shutout victories earlier in the season. Brockport's recent wins over Russell Sage and St. John Fisher were both decided by one goal, showing that the Golden Eagles can find ways to close out tight contests. The Pioneers will need to limit Brockport's scoring opportunities while staying disciplined defensively and taking advantage of their own chances in the attacking circle.

Up Next: The Pioneers will look toward their final two games of the regular season, welcoming St. John Fisher for a 7:00 PM battle next Wednesday before closing out the regular season with a 4:00 PM matchup at Hartwick on Wednesday, October 28th.

Football - The Pioneers head to the bye week after a bit win against Morrisville this past Saturday. The Pioneers jumped up to #14 in the official Division III NPI, and are primed to pursue a spot in the NCAA Tournament over their remaining four regular season matchups.
 
Last Week's Results
At Morrisville State | Saturday, October 10th

• W, 33-7 | (Szalkowski 22 cmp, 349 yds, 2 TD, Frederick 7 rec, 109 yds, 1 TD, Davis 9 tackles, 1 sack, Gentile 6 tackles, 1 int, 1 ff, Hernandez 1 int)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The Pioneers used a strong rushing defense to stop the Mustangs in their tracks, allowing just 59 rushing yards despite 28 attempts, holding Morrisville to 2.1 yards per carry on the afternoon. Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) led the charge on defense, blocking up all rushing lanes as he recorded nine tackles and a sack. Davis would receive Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
• On the other side of the ball, Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) also had a player of the week performance, attaining Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week following a 349-yard, two-touchdown outing where he recorded 15.9 yards per completion. Szalkowski spread the ball around with precision, but favored Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) and Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), with the former hauling in five catches for 110 yards and the latter grabbing seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.
• The win boosted the team's record to 5-1, and saw them climb up to #14 in the most recent official NCAA NPI calculations, placing them firmly in the playoff picture.

Up Next: Football will head to the bye week this Saturday, but will return the following weekend to take on Alfred University in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game sponsored by GKG and Sullivan Contracting. That matchup kicks off at 12:00 PM from Gaetano Stadium on Saturday, October 24th.

Golf - Utica's men's and women's golf teams are completing their Empire 8 fall events at Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club on Monday. Jacob Martyniuk (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) entered the final round tied for fourth on the men's leaderboard, while Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) led the Pioneer women in eighth.

Last Week's Action:

• Men: Martyniuk paced Utica with a 75 (+3), followed by Daniel Maloney (Syracuse, NY/Living Word Academy) and Koltin Pickell (Ellenville, NY/Ellenville) with matching 79s (+7), tied for 15th. Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, ON/Blyth Academy) entered Monday tied for 21st after an 80 (+8), while Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/East Grand Rapids) shot 84 (+12) and Louie Roman (Oswego, NY/Oswego) finished with an 85 (+13).
• Women: Draper opened with a 94 (+22), sitting one stroke ahead of Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany), whose 95 (+23) put her in a tie for ninth. Sianna Kenyon (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) followed in 16th with a 107 (+35), while Jordan Dorrity (Constableville, NY/South Lewis Central) stood tied for 19th after a 111 (+39). Utica's four rounds combined for a 407 (+119).

Note: October 12th final-round results were unavailable at the time of publication.

Trax Fax:

• Martyniuk recorded 11 pars and two birdies in his opening-round 75. He played the back nine in one over par, including a birdie on the par-three 14th.
• Parekh rebounded from a 44 on the front nine with an even-par 36 on the back. He birdied the 14th and 16th holes, cutting eight strokes from his front-nine total.
• Pickell closed strongly with consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes before finishing with a par. His back-nine 37 was five strokes better than his opening nine.
• Draper and Wright entered the final round just one stroke apart and both inside the women's top 10. Wright improved from a 49 on the front nine to a 46 on the back, while Draper birdied the par-five 16th.

Up Next: Both teams travel to The Powelton Club in Newburgh, NY this coming Thursday, October 15th. The men will conclude the fall half of their season at the MSMC Invitational, while the women will have one more event, the NWGC Fall Preview.

Women's Soccer - Women's soccer returns home this week seeking to get back on track as the 2026 campaign nears its conclusion. The Pioneers host Russell Sage and Nazareth in two pivotal matchups, aiming to bounce back from last week's setbacks against St. John Fisher and Brockport and keep their postseason aspirations alive.
Last Week's Results:
@ St. John Fisher | Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 PM

• L, 2-1

@ SUNY Brockport | Saturday, October 10, 1:00 PM

• L, 4-0

 
Last Week's Action:
 

• Fisher: Utica battled to the final whistle but came up just short in a 2-1 Empire 8 loss to the Cardinals. After falling behind early on an own goal, Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) responded with an outstanding set piece to pull level. The Pioneers looked set on taking the lead in the second half after a period of pressure on the Cardinals goal, but the hosts managed the match well and scored a goal of their own to take the lead. Utica matched the Cardinals with 18 shots and continued to pressure the Fisher defense throughout the second half, The Pioneers pushed for a late equalizer, creating several quality chances in the closing minutes, but were ultimately unable to break through.

 

• Brockport: The Pioneers battled to the final whistle against a top Brockport side, ultimately falling 4-0 to the Golden Eagles. Despite the result, Utica found opportunities, forcing eight saves from the Brockport goalkeepers.

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs Russell Sage College, Wednesday, October 14, 4:00 PM | Casamento Field
Vs Nazareth, Saturday, October 17, 1:00 PM | Casamento Field
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers backline holds the fifth best defensive record in the conference with 15 goals allowed and sit third in clean sheets with five.
• The Pioneers attack have the most shots on goal in the conference (123)
• Utica have the highest points in a single game this season with 23 vs Canton (9/5/2026)

 
Upcoming Opponents:
Russell Sage 

• Record: 6-5-2 (2-5)
• Recent Matches: L, 4-0 @ Geneseo, W, 3-1 vs Poly, L, 2-0, vs Brockport. The Gators faced two difficult opponents in Geneseo and Brockport, but defeated SUNY Poly at home for their second conference win of the season.
• Stat Leaders: Sophomore Sofia Sanzo leads the Gators with seven points (3g, 1a), followed by forward Anna Shepard with six points (3 goals).
• What to Watch For: This week's matchup could prove pivotal in the race for a postseason spot, as both the Pioneers and Gators enter the contest battling for position near the final spot in the top eight. With the regular season winding down, every point is crucial, making this a key conference showdown for two teams looking to extend their season.

Nazareth

• Record: 7-3-1 (5-2)
• Recent Matches: L, @ Fisher, 3-1, W, 3-1, vs Houghton, W, 4-1, vs Elmira. The Golden Flyers have played high-scoring matches recently, losing to rivals Fisher 3-1, but also defeating Houghton and Emira with a combined 7-2 goal margin.
• Stat Leaders: Freshman star Savanna Biehler leads the team with 25 points (10 g, 5a). The forward has burst onto the scene in her debut season, sitting second in total points for the conference.
• What to Watch For: Nazareth looks to play attacking soccer, scoring three or more goals in six games this season. However, the Pioneers have turned in several strong defensive performances against some of the conference's top offenses and will look to do so again this week. A key focus for Utica will be limiting the impact of Savanna Biehler in order to achieve an important result at home.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers wrap up the 2026 regular season with a trio of matches next week, starting with cross town rivals SUNY Poly. The Pioneers will then host Elmira for their final conference match of the season, before heading to Clinton to take on Hamilton College for the final regular season match. With postseason positioning still at stake, each match carries added significance as the Pioneers look to finish the season on a high note.
 
At SUNY Poly, Wednesday, October 21, 5:00 PM
Vs Elmira, Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM
At Hamilton College, Sunday, October 25, 1:00 PM
 
Men's Soccer - Men's soccer takes a four-match winning streak on the road after consecutive 2-0 victories over St. John Fisher and SUNY Brockport. The Pioneers enter matchups at Russell Sage and Nazareth at 7-5-1 overall and 5-2 in Empire 8 play, sitting tied second with 15 points, just one behind Brockport.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs St. John Fisher | Wednesday, October 7th

• W, 2-0 (Loselose - 1g, 1a; Consalvo - 1g; Accetta - 5 saves, shutout)

Vs Brockport | Saturday, October 10th

• W, 2-0 (Accetta - 16 saves, shutout; Cookinham - 2g)

 
Last Week's Action:

• St. John Fisher: Utica earned its third consecutive victory with a 2-0 shutout of visiting SJF. Santiago Consalvo (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Boston College (Buenos Aires)) provided the game-winning goal, while Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) contributed a goal and an assist, converting a penalty kick to help secure the win. Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) stopped all five shots on target he faced as the Pioneers handed the Cardinals their first loss in five matches.

• SUNY Brockport: The Pioneers extended their winning streak to four with a 2-0 victory over conference-leading Brockport on Senior Night. Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland) scored both goals, while Accetta made an incredible 16 saves to keep the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard despite their 29 shot attempts. Utica matched its season high with 10 shots on target and handed Brockport its first Empire 8 defeat.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Russell Sage College - Wednesday, October 14th, 4:00 PM | ACP Athletic Complex
At Nazareth University - Saturday, October 17th, 1:00 PM | Golden Flyer Stadium
Trax Fax:

• NATIONAL LEADER: Accetta leads NCAA men's soccer across all three divisions with a .931 save percentage. His 0.42 goals-against average ranks 10th nationally in Division III, with just four goals allowed through 855:00 in net.
• Accetta stopped all 21 shots on target he faced last week, including 16 against Brockport. His 16 saves were the most by a Utica goalkeeper in a single game just days short of exactly a decade. He leads the Empire 8 with five shutouts and is the conference's only qualifying goalkeeper with a goals-against average below 1.00.
• Utica and Brockport combined for 40 total shot attempts, putting 26 of them on target. The 40 total attempts were the most since late last season, while the 26 shots on goal were the most in almost a decade. Utica and Houghton University combined for 29 total S.O.G. in their 10/15/2016 matchup. The overtime-extended contest, the same game in which a Utica keeper last reached 16+ saves, ended in a 3-3 draw.
• Utica has outscored opponents 8-2 during its four-match winning streak, recording three shutouts. All four victories have come against Empire 8 opponents, earning the Pioneers 12 conference points.
• Loselose leads Utica with five goals and 11 points, tying for fourth in the Empire 8 in goals and fifth in points. He has scored four goals during the current winning streak and converted both of his penalty-kick attempts this season.
• Cookinham's two-goal performance against Brockport moved him into second on the team with six points. He leads Utica with 23 shots, ranking ninth in the conference, while Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) leads the Pioneers with three assists.

Upcoming Opponents:
Russell Sage College

• Record: 3-5-4 overall, 1-3-2 Empire 8
• Recent Matches: Sage fell 2-1 at SUNY Poly last Wednesday, its third consecutive defeat. That stretch also includes a 3-0 loss to MCLA and a 3-2 setback at Brockport.
• Stat Leaders: Peter Martillotta leads Sage with three goals and seven points. Andre Trigo leads the Gators with three assists and 17 shots. Goalkeeper Mateja Milutin has recorded 36 saves and three shutouts, ranking second in the Empire 8 with a 1.09 goals-against average and third with a .800 save percentage.
• What to Watch For: Sage has allowed 11 of its 17 goals after halftime, while Utica has scored 12 of its 16 goals in the second half. Sustaining pressure after the break could be especially valuable against a Gators squad coming off consecutive one-goal conference losses.

Nazareth University

• Record: 6-3-1 overall, 4-2-1 Empire 8
• Recent Matches: Nazareth fell 4-2 at Houghton before playing St. John Fisher to a 1-1 draw on Saturday. The Golden Flyers enter the week winless in three matches following a four-match winning streak.
• Stat Leaders: Samuel Burton leads Nazareth with five goals, 10 points, and 21 shots. Tyler Warmington follows with four goals and nine points, while Mason Stanco leads the team with three assists. Goalkeeper Bryan Tirado has recorded 30 saves, three shutouts, a 1.11 goals-against average, and a .750 save percentage through 810 minutes.
• What to Watch For: Nazareth remains unbeaten at home at 3-0-1, outscoring visitors 9-3. The Golden Flyers have also scored in nine of their 10 matches, presenting another test for a Utica team coming off consecutive shutouts.

 
Up Next: Utica hosts SUNY Poly on Wednesday, October 21st, at 7:00 PM at Laura M. Casamento Field before traveling to Elmira on Saturday, October 24th, for a 1:00 PM kickoff. The two Empire 8 matchups conclude the Pioneers' regular-season schedule.
 
Volleyball - Volleyball enters the week with an 8-12 overall record and a 4-1 mark in Empire 8 Conference play, sitting third in the conference standings following a 2-1 week at home. Utica now prepares for another three-match week, hosting Hartwick College on Friday evening before traveling to Albany on Saturday for matches against Russell Sage College and St. Lawrence University.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs SUNY Poly | Tuesday, October 6th
W, 3-0 (Bailey – 10k, Wright – 23d, Ancewicz – 16a)
Vs Houghton University | Friday, October 9th
W, 3-0 (Bailey – 21k, Wright – 21d, Jones – 18a)
Vs Alfred University | Saturday, October 10th
L, 3-2 (Bailey – 18k, Wright – 32d, Jones – 20a)
 
Last Week's Action:
SUNY Poly: The Pioneers opened their three-match homestand with a straight-set victory over SUNY Poly, winning 27-25, 25-11 and 25-20. Utica built an early advantage in the opening frame before the Wildcats rallied to take a 23-22 lead. After fighting off two set points, the Pioneers closed the frame with a Bailey kill and a SUNY Poly attacking error. Utica carried that momentum into the second set, opening with five consecutive points and eventually building a 21-7 advantage en route to a 25-11 victory. The Wildcats battled back in the third and tied the frame at 17-17, but three timely kills from Hanba helped Utica pull ahead before a pair of attacking errors completed the sweep. Bailey led the offense with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Wright anchored the defense with 23 digs. Utica held SUNY Poly to a .030 hitting percentage while forcing 25 attacking errors.

Houghton: Utica continued its strong start to Empire 8 play with a commanding 3-0 sweep of Houghton, taking the match by scores of 25-19, 25-10 and 25-20. The Highlanders jumped out to early leads in both the first and third sets, but the Pioneers responded with timely scoring runs to regain control. In the opening frame, Utica broke a 16-16 tie with five consecutive points before securing the six-point victory. The Pioneers dominated the second set, using a seven-point run and another eight unanswered points to pull away for a 25-10 win. Houghton trimmed Utica's third-set advantage to 21-20 late, but Bailey delivered three consecutive kills to finish the match. Bailey recorded a match-high 21 kills on a .340 hitting percentage, while Wright added 21 digs. O'Brien contributed five total blocks as the Pioneers held Houghton to a -.024 hitting percentage and finished with 10 team blocks.

Alfred: The Pioneers closed their homestand with a hard-fought five-set loss to Alfred, falling 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 23-25 and 15-12. After dropping the opening two frames, Utica mounted a comeback, claiming consecutive 25-23 victories to force a deciding fifth set. The Pioneers held off a late Alfred rally in the third before overcoming a 23-21 deficit in the fourth, scoring four unanswered points to extend the match. In the deciding frame, Alfred jumped ahead 9-5 before four consecutive Saxon attacking errors gave Utica a 10-9 advantage. The teams traded points down the stretch, but Alfred scored the final three to secure the victory. Bailey led Utica with 18 kills and 12 digs, while Hanba contributed 11 kills. Wright posted a match-high 32 digs and three service aces, while Jones dished out 20 assists.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs Hartwick College – Friday, October 16th, 7:00 PM | Clark Athletic Center (Fight for the Cure Match)
At Russell Sage College – Saturday, October 17th, 12:00 PM | Kahl Campus Center
Vs St. Lawrence University – Saturday, October 17th, 2:30 PM | Kahl Campus Center
 
Trax Fax:

• Utica's 4-1 start to Empire 8 play marks the program's best conference opening through five matches in the last decade. The Pioneers previously opened conference play 3-2 in both 2022 and 2023, making this season's start a notable improvement. Utica currently sits third in the Empire 8 standings after opening conference action with four consecutive victories over Elmira, Keuka, SUNY Poly and Houghton before suffering its first conference defeat against Alfred.

 

• Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) continues to establish herself as one of the nation's premier defensive players, leading the Empire 8 with 421 digs and an average of 6.10 digs per set. The senior libero also ranks second nationally in digs per set and eighth in total digs, according to the rankings supplied for this week's preview. Wright recorded 76 digs across Utica's three matches last week, including 23 against SUNY Poly, 21 against Houghton and 32 against Alfred. Her production has helped Utica establish itself as one of the conference's strongest defensive teams, averaging an Empire 8-best 18.11 digs per set in conference competition

.

• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has continued to lead the Pioneer offense, ranking third in the Empire 8 with 226 kills and an average of 3.53 kills per set. She also ranks second in the conference with 261.5 points, averaging 4.09 points per set, while sitting 10th with a .215 hitting percentage. Bailey has been especially productive against Empire 8 opponents, leading the conference with 4.53 kills per set in conference matches. Last week, she totaled 49 kills across 11 sets, highlighted by a 21-kill performance against Houghton in which she hit .340. Bailey followed that effort with 18 kills and 12 digs against Alfred, giving her 49 kills, 31 digs and eight total blocks for the week.

 

• The Pioneers have elevated their offensive production since entering Empire 8 play, ranking second in the conference with a .220 team hitting percentage in league matches. Utica also ranks third in points per set at 15.11 and fourth in kills per set at 11.68. The Pioneers' offensive efficiency has been complemented by their defense, which ranks first in conference-only competition with 18.11 digs per set. This balanced production has helped Utica win four of its first five conference matches entering another important weekend of Empire 8 action.

 

• Utica's setting duties have been shared by Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn), who have combined for 517 assists this season. Jones leads the team with 262 assists, including 52 across last week's three matches, while Ancewicz follows closely with 255. Jones recorded 14 assists against SUNY Poly, 18 against Houghton and 20 against Alfred, helping the Pioneers produce 125 kills over the three-match stretch. The duo has helped facilitate an offense that has totaled 703 kills through 20 matches, while Utica has also accumulated 151 service aces on the season.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
Hartwick College

• Record: 8-9 overall, 3-2 Empire 8
• Recent Matches: Hartwick split its two conference matches last weekend, sweeping Nazareth on October 9 before falling to St. John Fisher in three sets on October 10. The Hawks have won three of their first five Empire 8 matches, including victories over Russell Sage, SUNY Brockport and Nazareth.
• Stat Leaders: Lucy Walker leads the Hawks with 179 kills, averaging 3.14 kills per set, while hitting an impressive .324. Isabella Gracias follows with 113 kills, while Maya Lesinski has added 69. Thylia Keoviengsamay directs the offense with 450 assists, averaging 8.04 per set. Defensively, Malia Dake leads the team with 196 digs and 29 service aces.
• What to Watch For: Hartwick has recorded 125 service aces through 57 sets, averaging 2.19 aces per set. Walker has been particularly effective at the net, leading the Hawks with 40 total blocks while also pacing the offense in kills and hitting percentage. Hartwick enters Friday's matchup having won three of its last five matches, with all three victories coming against Empire 8 opponents.

 
Russell Sage College

• Record: 9-10 overall, 2-3 Empire 8
• Recent Matches: Russell Sage closed last weekend with consecutive victories, defeating Nazareth in five sets before taking down RIT in four sets on October 10. The Gators have won three of their last four matches overall, with their lone defeat during that stretch coming against St. John Fisher.
• Stat Leaders: Paige Kemmer leads Russell Sage with 206 kills, averaging 2.86 kills per set, while Mia Merino follows with 180 kills and an identical 2.86 kills-per-set average. Emily Trama has contributed 159 kills, while Cassidy Weiher has added 110. Tessa Warner leads the setting efforts with 309 assists, followed by Weiher with 299. Emma Curry anchors the defense with a team-high 364 digs and also leads the Gators with 65 service aces.
• What to Watch For: Russell Sage has been particularly dangerous from the service line, recording 189 aces through 74 sets, averaging 2.55 per set. Curry has accounted for 65 of those aces, averaging 0.88 per set. The Gators have also demonstrated an ability to compete in extended matches, playing six five-set contests and posting a 4-2 record in those matches. Saturday's conference matchup will feature two teams looking to strengthen their positions in the Empire 8 standings.

 
St. Lawrence University

• Record: 10-8 overall, 2-2 Liberty League
• Recent Matches: St. Lawrence split its two Liberty League matches last weekend, sweeping Bard on October 9 before falling to Vassar in three sets on October 10. The Saints have won five of their last seven contests, including victories over RIT, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and Bard.
• Stat Leaders: Bridget Gammons leads the Saints with 167 kills and a .314 hitting percentage, averaging 2.69 kills per set. Araiza Acum-Santos follows with 139 kills and a team-best 3.31 kills-per-set average, while Annika Flittie has added 79 kills. Vanessa Latam directs the offense with 387 assists, averaging 6.67 per set, while Cassady Smith anchors the defense with 274 digs. Smith also leads the Saints with 48 service aces.
• What to Watch For: St. Lawrence has been especially effective from the service line, recording 186 aces through 62 sets for an average of 3.00 per set. Smith leads the team with 48 aces, while Gammons follows with 33. The Saints have also maintained a .156 team hitting percentage, led by Gammons' .314 mark. Utica will look to counter St. Lawrence's aggressive serving attack with its strong defensive play when the two teams meet in Saturday's neutral-site contest.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers remain on the road, heading west to take on SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport. On Friday, October 23 the team will take on SUNY Geneseo beginning at 7pm from Geneseo, NY, before taking on SUNY Brockport on Saturday, October 24 beginning at 1pm from Brockport, NY.
 
Women's Hockey - Utica opens its season with a home exhibition against Lebanon Valley College this coming Saturday, October 17th. A full-length season preview will be released later this week, offering a closer look at the Pioneers and the season ahead!
 
COMING UP SOON:
Winter Sports on the Horizon: The winter sports season is on its way, with the first winter team kicking off play on October 17th when women's hockey welcomes Lebanon Valley for an exhibition contest.
 
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