UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's soccer team opened its 2026 season in an Empire 8 Tournament First Round matchup with Hartwick College. After the #2-seeded Pioneers pulled a 2-0 victory at Casamento Field back in September, the #7-seeded Hawks flipped the result on their hosts. The final concludes the 2026 men's soccer season. The Pioneers closed the year with a 9-7-2 overall record, setting a program record for their in-conference win total with their 7-3-1 E8 record.
It was a largely defensive affair, with Hartwick putting just seven shots on target to Utica's three. The shots on goal were accounted for by a pair of senior captains,
Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) and
Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point). Cavallo, who put two on target, joined fellow captain
Maximilian Pawlowski (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) in attempting four shots, the only members of the orange and blue with more than one. Senior goalkeeper
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) turned away five of the seven shots on goal he faced.
The Hawks' winning edge came as a result of a 9-5 corner kick lead, converting both their goals off corners. The first score came in the final minutes of the first half, with just 3:26 left. Hartwick's Devin Chandler sent in the set piece, finding the head of his teammate Joseph Allen around the near-side post. The visitors took 13 shots to Utica's seven in the opening 45:00, netting the late chance and entering halftime up 1-0.
Utica made halftime adjustments and came out to outshoot Hartwick 7-4, but could not beat the Hawks' backstop. At the 64:35 mark, again off a Chandler corner kick, the visitors extended their lead to two. This time, Muhammad Troare placed a header by the back-side post to add an insurance goal. The Pioneers continued to fight valiantly for their postseason lives, even putting two of their shots on target during the 87th and 88th minutes, but could not break the eventual 2-0 final.
The result concludes the 2026 Utica men's soccer season. Be sure to follow Utica Athletics on social media and check uticapioneers.com for information on the 2027 season as it approaches!
