ALBANY, NY - Utica University's men's soccer hit the road for its first away matchup in two weeks, challenging the Russell Sage College Gators. The bout was tightly contested throughout, with the teams drawing 1-1 in the end. The Pioneers struck just before the halftime break, but a 78th-minute Gator goal ended Utica's four-game win streak but continued a five-game unbeaten streak. The orange and blue will look to return to the win column in a road matchup with Nazareth this coming Saturday.
The Pioneers took a slight win in the shot count, attempting 15 to Russell Sage's 13, but the hosts had higher accuracy on the night, leading the shot-on-goal tally 9-6. Senior
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) kept Utica in the game, turning away all but one of the shots on target. The goalkeeper, who led all three NCAA divisions in save percentage entering the matchup, conceded a goal on his eighth shot on goal faced, ending his shutout streak at 350:23. Sophomore
Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) netted his second of the season, finishing an assist by freshman
Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham). Each Utica shot on target was taken by a separate player.
Utica attempted one more shot in the first half than their hosts, but the Gators put all five of their attempts on target. Russell Sage opened with a header that was saved just 2:32 into play. The Pioneers had a 5-2 lead in corner kicks in the first 45:00, taking their first just 2:06 later. After a Utica shot drifted high with just under two minutes left, the orange and blue appeared on track to enter halftime tied 0-0, a common occurrence throughout the 2026 season. However, with just 28 seconds before the break, Schweitzer knocked home a go-ahead goal. He one-touch finished a through pass by Nkurunziza.
The Gators controlled the early pressure of the second half, taking five consecutive shot attempts between the 50:38 and 54:14 marks. The orange and blue responded by attempting nine of the next 10 shots, between the 59th and 82nd minutes, but it was the lone Russell Sage shot that was the most pivotal of the final 45:00. After 77:50, senior John Lewis Whalen netted the equalizer for the home squad. Utica took a series of shot attempts just minutes later, and Russell Sage took the final two attempts, but neither squad broke the 0-0 final.
The Pioneers return to action this coming Saturday, October 17th, in a road contest with Nazareth University. Opening kickoff is set for 1:00 pm at Golden Flyer Stadium. Utica returns to Casamento Field for its final regular-season home game next Wednesday, October 21st, in a Crosstown Showdown with SUNY Poly.
