UTICA, NY - Conference competition heats up this week at Utica, as the Pioneers battle an array of Empire 8 opponents across seven different home games. Volleyball, men's soccer, and field hockey will have multiple home matchups, highlighted by Volleyball's Mental Health Awareness match tomorrow night against SUNY Poly, and men's soccer's Senior Day showdown with Empire 8 unbeaten Brockport.
 
This past week, both soccer teams picked up stellar home wins, with each program winning 3-2 against their respective opponents. These victories helped each team stay ahead in the race for premier positioning in the conference playoffs. In addition, the golf programs had historic outings, while cross country saw the return of an all-time program great. 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
 
Pioneer Athletes of the Week:
Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) - Women's Golf
Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) - 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 5th
10:00 AM - Women's Golf at Nazareth | Locust Hill Country Club (Nazareth Fall Invitational)
 
Tuesday, October 6th
7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs SUNY Poly | Miga Court (Mental Health Awareness Match)
 
Wednesday, October 7th
4:00 PM - Field Hockey vs Russell Sage | ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium
6:00 PM - Women's Soccer at St. John Fisher | Growney Stadium
7:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs St. John Fisher | Laura M. Casamento Field
 
Friday, October 9th
7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Houghton | Miga Court
 
Saturday, October 10th
11:00 AM - Women's Cross Country at Hamilton | Hamilton Invitational
11:45 AM - Men's Cross Country at Hamilton | Hamilton Invitational
12:00 PM - Football at Morrisville | Drake Field
1:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Alfred U. | Miga Court
1:00 PM - Women's Soccer at Brockport | A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field
2:00 PM - Field Hockey vs Keuka | ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium
7:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Brockport | Laura M. Casamento Field (Senior Day)
 
Sunday, October 11th
TBD - Men's Golf at Empire 8 | Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club (E8 Men's Golf Championship - R1/4)
TBD - Women's Golf at Empire 8 | Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club (E8 Women's Golf Invitational - R1/2)
 
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 return to Clinton for Saturday's Hamilton Invitational after placing fifth and sixth, respectively, at the Kara Hall Memorial Invitational. Bennett Melita's (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) runner-up finish and Marlo Townsend's (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) sixth-place showing led the Pioneers at Fredonia.
 
Last Week's Action:
Men: Utica finished fifth out of 13 teams with 160 points in Friday's 8K. Melita placed second in 26:14.8, followed by Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) in seventh at 26:28.6. Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) crossed in 49th at 27:51.4, while Brandon Knisely (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Liam Maxson (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) completed the scoring five in consecutive places, finishing 76th and 77th in 28:42.6 and 28:51.1.
 
Women: The Pioneers placed sixth out of 12 teams with 165 points in the 6K. Townsend led Utica in sixth at 23:20.2, while Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) finished 12th in 24:05.9. Nicole Arnhold (Hampton, NY/Granville) was the third Pioneer across the line in 50th at 25:28.8, followed by Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) in 65th at 26:15.4 and Tara Fobare (Sauquoit, NY/New Hartford) in 86th at 27:18.0.
 
This Week's Schedule:
At Hamilton Invitational - Saturday, October 10th | Hosted by Hamilton
Women: 11:00 AM
Men: 11:45 AM
 
Trax Fax:

• Melita has finished inside the top five in all three of his appearances this season, winning at SUNY Poly, placing fifth at Hamilton, and taking second at Fredonia. He finished just 10.5 seconds behind Friday's individual winner.
• Melita and Bauer crossed only 13.8 seconds apart at Fredonia, giving Utica two top-seven finishers. Bauer has earned three top-10 finishes through four meets this season, including back-to-back second-place finishes in the first two events of the season.
• Townsend has led the Pioneer women in each of her three appearances this season. Her sixth-place finish at Fredonia was her second top-10 result, following her course-record victory at SUNY Poly.
• Arnhold moved into Utica's third finishing position at Fredonia, crossing 46.6 seconds ahead of the next Pioneer. She joins Manna, Simmons, and Fobare as scorers in all four meets this season.

 
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 returns home for two pivotal Empire 8 Conference games on Wednesday and Saturday, battling Russell Sage midweek, before capping off the week with a Saturday showdown against Keuka. The team has been extremely competitive lately, with three of its last five matchups going to overtime. This week is a major chance for the program to break through and make a bid to climb into Empire 8 playoff contention.
 
Last Week's Results
At Wilkes University | Wednesday, September 30th

• L, 2-1 (OT) (Spiezio - 1g, Marcantonio - 1a)

At Houghton University | Saturday, October 3rd

• L, 3-4 (OT) (Spiezio - 1g, 1a, Marcantonio - 1g, 1a)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The team played a pair of extremely competitive matches this past week, falling in overtime on both occasions. Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) and Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) both had stellar weeks, with the former notching five points on two goals and one assist, while the latter, a rookie defender, had four points thanks to one goal and two assists.
• The offense opened up for the orange and blue this past week, as the team rattled off 34 shots, an average of 17 per game, while landing 18 shots on goal, an average of nine per game. That latter total saw the team draw even with its pair of opponents, as the program took and allowed 18 shots on goal in the matches against Wilkes and Houghton, two programs with a combined record of 13-6.
• The Pioneers were also aggressive inside the circle, drawing 23 penalty corners over the two-game span, including an 18-corner outing against Houghton on Saturday.

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs Russell Sage College - Wednesday, October 7th, 4:00 PM | Utica, NY
Vs Keuka College - Saturday, October 10th, 2:00 PM | Utica, NY
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers have been extremely accurate on offense, seeing a large majority of their total attempts reach the face of goal. Across the 2026 season, the Pioneers have taken 102 shots, with 68 of those going on goal for a shots-on-goal percentage of .667. Conversely, the Pioneers' opponents haven't been as clinical, only landing .596 of their total opportunities on net.
• Of the Pioneers' top four point-getters, just one (Spiezio) is a senior. Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) (5g), Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) (2g, 2a), Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) (1g, 2a), have all had solid seasons, especially the former two, who are in their debut collegiate seasons.
• Marcantonio has been especially spectacular these past few weeks. The Pioneer defender has gathered a point in each of her last three games, tallying two goals and two assists over that time. Marcantonio scored her first collegiate goal in the Pioneers' battle against Elmira on September 26th, and hasn't looked back, grabbing an assist against Wilkes and capping it off with a goal and an assist against Houghton.

Upcoming Opponents:
Russell Sage College

• Record: 4-6 (2-2 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Gators enter Wednesday's matchup after falling to Brockport, 2-1 in overtime, on Friday. Russell Sage opened Empire 8 play with a 7-1 win over Alfred University back in early September, before falling to Houghton 5-2. The Gators responded following that loss to the Highlanders, getting back on track with consecutive victories over Keuka (3-1) and non-league opponent Manhattanville (4-2). The Gators also picked up a non-conference victory over NJAC opponent Ramapo, 8-3, earlier in the season. Most recently against Brockport, Russell Sage took a 1-0 lead into halftime before the Golden Eagles tied the contest in the third quarter and scored the overtime winner.
• Stat Leaders: Russell Sage relies on a pair of stellar underclassmen to power the offense. Sophomore Catherine Newkirk has emerged as the Gators' top offensive weapon, entering the matchup with nine goals on the season. Newkirk scored twice in Russell Sage's 3-1 victory over Keuka and previously recorded a pair of goals against Ramapo. Freshman Sadee Short has also been a major contributor, scoring twice against Ramapo and adding goals against Alfred and Houghton. Cheyanne Zobel has provided a consistent playmaking presence, including assists on goals against Ramapo, Houghton and Alfred. Olivia Brand has handled the majority of the work in goal, including an eight-save performance against Brockport.
• What to Watch For: Russell Sage has shown that it can create offense in bunches. The Gators erupted for 28 shots and 12 penalty corners against Ramapo and generated 48 shots and 36 shots on goal in their 7-1 victory over Alfred. More recently, Sage controlled much of its matchup with Keuka, holding a 20-1 advantage in shots and an 8-0 edge in penalty corners. However, the Gators have also shown they can be vulnerable in close games, with their most recent loss to Brockport coming in overtime after they held an early lead. The Pioneers will need to limit the Gators' top two weapons, and find a way to take an early lead on the other end.

Keuka College

• Record: 0-8 (0-4 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Wolves enter Saturday's matchup still searching for their first victory of the season. Keuka opened the year with four consecutive losses before battling Elmira to a 4-3 decision on September 19. The Wolves then dropped an 8-0 contest at Hartwick before falling to Russell Sage, 3-1, on September 26. Most recently, Keuka suffered a 7-0 home loss to Houghton on September 30. The Highlanders scored twice in the opening 5:21 and eventually finished with a 23-2 advantage in shots.
• Stat Leaders: Emma Mantione has been one of Keuka's most productive offensive players, scoring her second goal of the season against Russell Sage after receiving a feed from Brianna Broadwell with just six seconds remaining. Mantione also scored against Elmira earlier in the season. Broadwell has provided a playmaking presence from the midfield, including the assist on Mantione's goal against Sage. In goal, Khadeeja Reed has faced a heavy workload throughout the season and recently reached 72 saves, placing her 10th on Keuka's single-season saves list. Reed made nine saves against Russell Sage and another seven against Houghton.
• What to Watch For: Keuka has faced a difficult schedule throughout the opening portion of the season, and the Wolves have frequently relied on their defense and goalkeeper to keep games within reach. Reed's nine-save performance against Russell Sage kept Keuka competitive for much of the contest.

Up Next: Field hockey will continue Empire 8 play following this week's two-game homestand. The Pioneers will travel to Nazareth on Wednesday, October 14 for a 6:00 PM matchup against the Golden Flyers before returning home Saturday, October 17 to host Brockport at 2:00 PM. That matchup against Brockport will also be the team's senior day.


Football - The Pioneers will battle against SUNY Morrisville on the road this weekend, heading to Drake Field searching for a win to get back on track after a hard-fought Homecoming defeat to #17 Cortland last week. With a bye week following this week, the Pioneers travel to Morrisville for a must-win game to stay in contention for the Empire 8 Championship and potential postseason play.  
 
Last Week's Results
Vs. #17 Cortland | Saturday, October 3rd

• L, 31-21 | (Szalkowski 29 cmp, 260 yds, 3 TD, Taylor 3 rec, 72 yds, Frederick 7 rec, 69 yds, 2 TDs, Zawolo, 11 rec, 51 yds, Thomas 11 tackles, 1.5 tfl, Davis .5 sack, 1 ff, DeForrest .5 sack, Hernandez 1 int)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The Pioneers battled back from an early 21-0 deficit against the reigning Empire 8 Champion Cortland Red Dragons, finding the endzone three times in an eventual 31-21 loss to a program in the midst of a 36-game conference win streak. Over the span of Cortland's 30+ wins, the Pioneers' 10-point defeat was the second closest matchup, showcasing the team's competitiveness against a program that had yet to allow 20 points on the season.
• Despite the loss, the Pioneers were up for the challenge, winning the turnover battle, going 12-20 on third down, and only falling seven yards short of Cortland's total offensive yardage. A few key mistakes cost the Pioneers in their first-ever ranked-on-ranked matchup.
• The Pioneers' loss would see them drop out of the rankings. However, the team still boasts one of the best one-loss resumes in all of Division III football, sitting just two spots out of the Top 25 in both the D3football.com and AFCA Polls.

 
This Week's Schedule:
AT SUNY Morrisville - Saturday, October 3rd, 1:00 PM | Morrisville, New York | Drake Field
 
Trax Fax:

• Midway through the 2026 campaign, the Pioneers currently possess a plethora of placements among the top statistical categories in all of Division III. Here is a look at their current NCAA ranks:

Team Statistical Placements:

• Fumbles Recovered | 7 | Tied-2nd
• Turnovers Generated | 15 | 4th
• Passing Yards Per Game | 320.6 | 9th
• Total First Downs | 121 (27 Rush, 79 Pass, 15 Penalties) | 10th
• Turnover Margin per Game | +1.80 | Tied-11th
• Interceptions | 8 | Tied-14th
• Completion Percentage | .685 (135 Completions, 197 Attempts) | 18th
• 4th Down Percentage | .667 (5-for-8) | Tied-31st
• Sacks per Game | 2.80 | Tied-42nd
• Time of Possession | 162 Minutes (32 per Game) | 42nd
• Least Opposing Tackles for Loss Per Game | 4.20 | Tied-43rd
• Total Offense Per Game | 433.2 Yards | 43rd
• Points Per Game | 35.8 | 46th

 

• The Pioneers have been historically disruptive this season, having the fourth most turnovers generated in all of Division III football with 15 total through five games. This includes ranking second in fumble recoveries with seven, which is even more impressive given the Pioneers have to battle an extremely challenging array of running backs in their battles against W&J (Andrew Sharp), RPI (Kayden White), Hobart (EJ Taylor), Alfred State (Noah Currier), and Cortland (Ethan Gallo), all of whom were seniors.
• Nathan Hernandez (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) has been a big reason behind the Pioneers' explosive defense, having four interceptions through five games, which leads the entire Empire 8 conference and ranks highly among the entire division.

Individual Statistical Placements

• Duarte | Field Goal Percentage | 1.000 (11 Makes, 11 Attempts) | 1st
• Duarte | Field Goals per Game | 2.20 | 1st
• Szalkowski | Passing Yards | 1,603 | 1st
• Szalkowski | Passing Yards per Game | 320.60 | 4th
• Zawolo | Receptions per Game | 9 | 5th
• Thomas | Tackles per Game | 11.6 | 7th
• Hernandez | Interceptions | 4 | Tied-9th
• Szalkowski | Total Offense per Game | 314.6 | 13th
• Duarte | Total Points Scored | 51 | 15th
• Taylor | Receiving Yards | 504 | 15th
• Szalkowski | Completion Percentage | .703 (135 Completions, 192 Attempts) | 16th
• Szalkowski | Passing Touchdowns | 12 | Tied-16th
• Zawolo | Receiving Touchdowns | 5 | Tied-22nd
• Taylor | Receiving Yards per Game | 100.8 | 28th
• Duarte | Scoring per Game | 10.2 | 29th
• Zawolo | Receiving Yards | 420 | 30th
• Szalkowski | Points Responsible For | 74 | Tied-30th
• Taylor | Yards per Reception | 21.91 | 34th
• Szalkowski | Passing Efficiency | 156.90 | 43rd

 

• Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) has put together a stellar season so far, flying around the field and wrapping up tackles at an absurd rate. Thomas is on pace to challenge some program tackling records come season's end, leading the Pioneers in takedowns by nearly 30 whole counts.
• On offense, quarterback Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) and kicker Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) have amazingly ranked at the top of Division III in a few different categories, showcasing the effectiveness of the Pioneer offense this season.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
SUNY Morrisville

• Record: 1-4  (at Keane University - W 33-30, at Rochester - L 21-10, vs. Union College - L 38-17, at Cortland - L 62-6, vs. Alfred State College - L 33-21)

Recent Matchups:

• Against Union, Morrisville was defeated in a game decided by the turnover battle. Although the Mustangs were competitive offensively, their three turnovers compared to Union's zero ultimately decided the game. Morrisville focused on scoring through the air, with 37 attempts. The Mustang defense forced five punts for 192 yards.
• Against Cortland, the Mustangs were heavily defeated by the Red Dragons, with the team still finding their footing under second-year head coach Eric Jendryaszek. Wide Receiver Mason Ondreyko had 94 of the team's 100 receiving yards.
• Against Alfred State, Morrisville found success on the ground offensively, scoring three touchdowns off 160 rushing yards. However, the Mustang defense struggled to contain a powerful ASC ground game, which controlled the game with 387 rushing yards, scoring three touchdowns. The Mustang defense did well to shut down the ASC pass game, holding the Pioneers to 121 yards and two interceptions.

Stat Leaders:

• Offense
  • QB Logan Watson, 60 completions, 591 passing yards, four total touchdowns, 63.83% completion percentage.
  • RB Isaac Sylvain, 58 attempts, 266 rushing yards, four touchdowns, 4.6 yards per carry, nine receptions, 20 receiving yards.
  • WR Mason Ondreyko, 20 receptions, 274 receiving yards, two touchdowns,13.7 yards per reception.
  • WR Chaunsey Gilbert, four receptions, 110 receiving yards, 27.50 yards per reception.
  • WR Larry German, 13 receptions, 103 receiving yards, one touchdown.
• Defense
  • LB Israel Baker, 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception
  • DB DeSean Bruce, 29 tackles, 3.0 for loss, two pass breakups.
  • LB Kahlil Terry, 28 tackles, 1.0 for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery.
  • LB Bruce Wingate, 27 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception.

What to Watch For: Morrisville enters Saturday's matchup averaging 17.4 points and 240.2 yards of total offense per game, while allowing 36.8 points and 433.8 yards per contest. Contrary to last season, the Mustangs have struggled to establish the run, averaging just 86.2 rushing yards per game, while quarterback Logan Watson has provided the majority of their offensive production through the air with 591 passing yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Morrisville has allowed 235.6 rushing yards and 198.2 passing yards per game, while forcing 12 turnovers through five games.

Morrisville opened the season with a 33-30 victory over Kean before dropping three straight games against Rochester, Union, and Cortland. The Mustangs opened Empire 8 play with a 62-6 loss at Cortland, but responded by putting together 216 yards of offense and forcing three turnovers against Alfred State on October 3. Morrisville held a 21-20 lead entering the fourth quarter against Alfred State before the host Pioneers scored 13 unanswered points to secure the victory.

The Mustangs' offense continues to run through Watson and Sylvain. Watson has completed 63.83 percent of his passes while accounting for four passing touchdowns, and Sylvain has supplied four rushing scores while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Ondreyko provides Morrisville with its most productive receiving threat, averaging 13.7 yards per reception and scoring twice, while Gilbert has been especially dangerous on big plays with an average of 27.5 yards per catch. Defensively, Baker leads the team with 37 tackles, while Wingate has produced five tackles for loss and an interception. Daniels has also been a major playmaker in the secondary with three interceptions and five pass breakups.

Series History: Saturday will mark the 12th meeting between Utica and Morrisville, with the Pioneers holding a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series. Utica has won four of the last five meetings, including a 27-21 victory at Gaetano Stadium last season. The Mustangs' most recent victory came in 2024, when they edged the Pioneers, 28-26, in Morrisville. In that matchup, the Pioneers scored a last-second hail mary, with Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) finding the endzone as time expired. However, the Pioneers couldn't convert the ensuing two-point try.

• Notes:
  • Morrisville enters Saturday at 1-4 overall and 0-2 in Empire 8 play. The Mustangs opened the season with a 33-30 road victory at Kean before falling to Rochester, Union, Cortland and Alfred State.
  • The Pioneers will face a Morrisville offense that has struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground, averaging just 86.2 rushing yards per game. Watson has thrown for 591 yards, while Sylvain leads the rushing attack with 266 yards and four touchdowns.
  • Morrisville's defense has demonstrated a knack for creating turnovers, forcing 12 through the first five games. Daniels leads the secondary with three interceptions, while Baker and Wingate have also recorded interceptions this season.
  • The Mustangs have struggled to keep opposing offenses out of the end zone, allowing 36.8 points per game. Opponents have averaged 235.6 rushing yards per game against Morrisville, which could create an opportunity for Utica's rushing attack to complement a Pioneer passing game that is averaging 320.6 yards through the air.
  • Last year's matchup was a close one, with Utica jumping out to a 27-7 lead before Morrisville rallied to make it a six-point game. The Pioneers ultimately held on for the 27-21 victory, giving them their fourth win in the last five meetings.

Up Next: Football will have a bye week following Saturday's Empire 8 matchup at SUNY Morrisville before returning home on Saturday, October 24th to host Alfred University at 12:00 PM for the GKG & Sullivan Contracting Breast Cancer Awareness Game. The Pioneers will then travel to St. John Fisher University on Saturday, October 31st for a 2:00 PM Empire 8 matchup.

Golf - Utica's men claimed the SUNY Poly Invitational title with the program's lowest team round in available records, while the women defeated SUNY Delhi at home. The women are wrapping up the Nazareth Invitational on Monday before both squads turn their attention to their Empire 8 fall events.

Last Week's Action:

• Men: Utica won the five-team SUNY Poly Invitational with a 286 (+6), led by Koltin Pickell's (Ellenville, NY/Ellenvlle) individual-winning 70 (E). Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, ON/Blyth Academy) finished second with a 71 (+1), Jacob Martyniuk (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) placed third with a 72 (+2), and Louie Roman (Oswego, NY/Oswego) tied for fourth with a 73 (+3). Against Delhi on Thursday, the Pioneers fell 307-321. Pickell again led Utica, tying for fourth with a 77 (+6), followed by Roman's 80 (+9).
• Women: The Pioneers finished second at SUNY Poly with a 366 (+78). Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) led with a collegiate-best 83 (+11) in sixth, while Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) placed eighth with a 91 (+19). Utica then defeated Delhi, 406-509, sweeping the top four individual positions. Draper won with an 89 (+16), followed by Sianna Kenyon's (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) 98 (+25), Jordan Dorrity's (Constableville, NY/South Lewis Central) 109 (+36), and Wright's 110 (+37).

Note: Final results from the WGOLF's October 4th-5th Nazareth Invitational were unavailable at the time of publication.

Trax Fax:

• Utica's 286 at SUNY Poly was its lowest team round in available program records dating back to the 2010-11 season. The four counting scores were separated by just three strokes, with every scorer finishing inside the top four.
• Pickell led Utica in both completed events last week. He closed his individual victory at SUNY Poly with 15 consecutive pars, then recorded 11 pars and a birdie against Delhi.
• Draper lowered her collegiate single-round best to 83 at SUNY Poly, two strokes better than her matching 85s at the Casler Masonry Invitational. She followed that performance with a nine-stroke individual victory against Delhi.
• Martyniuk recorded an eagle on the 429-yard, par-four 12th hole against Delhi. Earlier in the week, he played the front nine at SUNY Poly in two under par on his way to a third-place finish.

Up Next: Both teams travel to Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club in Cicero, NY on Sunday and Monday, October 11th and 12th. The men compete in the Empire 8 Fall Championship, while the women play in the Empire 8 Fall Invitational. Start times are to be announced.

Women's Soccer - Women's soccer looks to secure a big result on the road after falling last time out. As the 2026 season winds down, the Pioneers currently stand at 4-3-4 overall and 1-1-3 in conference play following a win vs. Keuka and defeat vs. Houghton. 
 
Last Week's Results:
Vs Keuka | Wednesday, September 30, 4:00 PM

• W, 3-2

@ Houghton | Saturday, October 3, 3:30 PM

• L, 1-0

 
Last Week's Action:

• Keuka: Utica controlled play to start, securing an early 1-0 lead through Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh). Against the run of play, the Pioneers found themselves level after conceding an unlucky effort from miles away, which caught Utica off guard. With the momentum flipped, Keuka found the lead with a perfectly timed counterattack through the heart of the Pioneer defense. Utica battled back from 2-1 down with Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) finding her 5th goal of the season after taking on two defenders. The winner came in the 70th minute thanks to Abigail Jalocha (Maspeth, NY/Monsignior McClancy Memorial), who found yet another match-deciding effort off the bench.

 

• Houghton: The Pioneers fell behind early, which proved to be the winning goal for the Highlanders. Utica answered with a range of attacks throughout the match, registering nine shots on goal. Abigail Jalocha (Maspeth, NY/Monsignior McClancy Memorial) nearly found her second goal of the week with ten minutes to play; her effort rattled the woodwork and proved to be Utica's last chance of the match.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At St. John Fisher, Wednesday, October 7th, 6:00 PM | Growney Stadium
At Brockport, Saturday, October 10th, 1:00 PM | A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers hold the highest save percentage in Empire 8 (.836), showing the quality of shot stoppers on the roster. Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) sits second in save percentage individually with .822 through nine games.
• Utica holds the third-best defensive record in the conference (9 GA) with two more matches played than first-place Nazareth (6 GA) and one more match played than second-place Fisher (8 GA).
• The Pioneers have the most shots on goal in the conference (106)

 
Upcoming Opponents:
St. John Fisher

• Record: 9-1 (5-0)
• Recent Matches: The Cardinals were on the road last week, defeating Elmira 4-0 and Keuka 2-1 for a pair of conference wins.
• Stat Leaders: Junior Forward Emily Woolingham leads the Cardinals with eight goals and five assists (conference high). Junior Olivia Kalil rounds out the attack with six goals this season. The attacking duo has combined for 36 points.
• What to Watch For: Since losing in week four, Fisher has been on a six-game winning streak, tearing through the conference. The Cardinals top the conference in goal scoring with 34, seven more than second place. Coming up against a rock-solid Pioneer defense will be the Cardinals' biggest challenge so far.

Brockport

• Record: 8-1-2 (4-0-1)
• Recent Matches: The Golden Eagles won both conference matches last week, defeating Alfred 2-1 and Sage 2-0.
• Stat Leaders: Midfielder Amelia Breton leads the team and conference with 13 goals; the senior is having a dominant season in front of the net. Breton also leads the conference in total shots (49) and game-winning goals (6).
• What to Watch For: Brockport is on an eight-game unbeaten run, looking to continue its push for a conference championship against the Pioneers. Utica travels to Brockport, entering "must-win" territory, looking to build on its first conference win from last week.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers return home for a pair of conference matchups, starting with Russell Sage on Wednesday, October 14th, at 4:00 PM. Utica then hosts Nazareth on Saturday, October 17th, at 1:00 PM.
 
Men's Soccer - Men's soccer carries consecutive Empire 8 wins into home matchups with St. John Fisher and SUNY Brockport this week. The Pioneers stand at 5-5-1 overall and 3-2 in conference play after defeating Keuka and Houghton.
 
Last Week's Results
At Keuka College | Wednesday, September 30th

• W, 1-0 (Loselose - 1g, 4 SOG; Accetta - 2 saves, shutout)

Vs Houghton University | Saturday, October 3rd

• W, 3-2 (Loselose - 2g; Cavallo - 1g, 1a; Gacic - 2 saves)

 
Last Week's Action:

• Keuka: Utica controlled the chances in a 1-0 road victory, outshooting the Wolves 16-5 and holding a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal. Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) provided the breakthrough at 59:56, finishing his own rebound for the game's lone goal. The senior put all four of his attempts on target, while Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) stopped both shots he faced for his third shutout of the season.
• Houghton: The Pioneers rallied from an early deficit to defeat Houghton, 3-2, on their first of two senior nights. Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) equalized in the 32nd minute before Loselose scored twice within 4:16 early in the second half to establish a 3-1 lead. Houghton pulled within one in the 78th minute, but Asim Gacic's (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) second save preserved the lead in the closing minutes. Utica finished with season highs of 19 shots and 10 attempts on target.

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs St. John Fisher University - Wednesday, October 7th, 7:00 PM | Laura M. Casamento Field
Vs SUNY Brockport - Saturday, October 10th, 7:00 PM | Laura M. Casamento Field (Senior Day)

Trax Fax:

• Accetta leads the Empire 8 in both goals-against average (0.53) and save percentage (.892) through 675:00 in net. His shutout at Keuka moved him into a tie for the conference lead with three this season.
• Loselose scored three of Utica's four goals last week, including both game-winners. He leads the Pioneers with four goals and eight points, tying for fourth in the Empire 8 in goals. Nine of his 10 shots this season have been on target.
• Utica generated a combined 35 shots and 19 shots on goal against Keuka and Houghton, allowing just six attempts on target. Saturday's 10 shots on goal surpassed the team's previous season high of nine.
• Cavallo became Utica's ninth different goal scorer this season with his equalizer against Houghton. He added an assist on Loselose's first goal for a three-point performance.
• The Pioneers earned six conference points last week and enter this week just four points behind first-place Brockport. Both upcoming opponents sit above Utica in the standings, with Fisher on 12 points and Brockport on 13.

Upcoming Opponents:
St. John Fisher University

• Record: 5-4-1 overall, 4-1 Empire 8
• Recent Matches: Fisher enters Wednesday on a four-match winning streak, most recently defeating Elmira, 3-1, and Keuka, 2-0. The Cardinals have outscored opponents 10-2 during the winning streak.
• Stat Leaders: Graduate midfielder Adam Grover leads SJF with four goals and eight total points, while senior forward Jack Tamburino leads Fisher with three assists and has recorded 20 shots. Goalkeeper Parker Stusek ranks second in the Empire 8 with 47 saves and third with a .825 save percentage. His three shutouts are tied for the conference lead.
• What to Watch For: Fisher has scored multiple goals in each of its four consecutive wins. Wednesday also features two of the conference's top goalkeepers, with Accetta and Stusek both among the leaders in save percentage and shutouts.

SUNY Brockport

• Record: 5-3-2 overall, 4-0-1 Empire 8
• Recent Matches: Brockport played Alfred to a 1-1 draw before defeating Russell Sage, 3-2, on Saturday. The Golden Eagles enter the week unbeaten through five conference matches.
• Stat Leaders: Ryan Mathis leads the Empire 8 with seven goals, 16 points, and 39 shots. Khadim Amar has added five goals and 11 points, while Trevor Lagarde ranks second in the conference with six assists.
• What to Watch For: Mathis and Amar have combined for 12 of Brockport's 17 goals. Limiting that pair will be a priority as Utica hosts the conference leaders and recognizes its remaining Senior Night honorees.

 
Up Next: Utica heads on the road for two Empire 8 matchups, visiting Russell Sage on Wednesday, October 14th, at 4:00 PM before traveling to Nazareth on Saturday, October 17th, for a 1:00 PM kickoff.
 
Volleyball - The Pioneers opened Empire 8 play with a perfect 2-0 weekend, earning a straight-set win at Elmira before rallying for a five-set victory at Keuka. Utica now returns home for three straight matches this week, beginning with Tuesday's Mental Health Awareness Match against SUNY Poly.
 
Last Week's Results
At Elmira College | Friday, October 2nd
            W, 3-0 (Bailey - 18k, Wright - 10d/6a, Jones - 4a)
At Keuka College | Saturday, October 3rd
            W, 3-2 (Bailey - 19k/25d/3a, Hanba - 19k, Wright - 33d)
 
 
Last Week's Action:

Elmira: Utica opened Empire 8 play in dominant fashion, sweeping Elmira 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-12). Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the way with 18 kills while hitting .467 and added eight digs, two aces and a block for a team-high 20.5 points. Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) added 10 digs and six aces, while Addison Jones (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) combined for 28 assists. After a back-and-forth opening set, the Pioneers pulled away late by scoring six of the final seven points. Utica then used a 9-2 run in the second set and a 6-0 run in the third to finish off the sweep.

Keuka: The Pioneers battled back from an early deficit to earn a thrilling 3-2 win over Keuka (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13). Bailey and Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) each recorded 19 kills, while Bailey added 25 digs and three aces. Wright anchored the defense with a season-high 33 digs, and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) finished with 28 assists. Utica took a 2-1 match lead after winning the second and third sets before Keuka forced a deciding fifth. The Pioneers trailed 3-0 in the final frame but battled back, eventually taking a 14-13 lead on a Bailey kill before a Keuka attack error sealed the victory.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs. SUNY Polytechnic Institute | Tuesday, October 6th, 7:00 PM | Clark Athletic Center
Mental Health Awareness Match, presented by the Center for Family Life and Recovery
Vs. Houghton University | Friday, October 9th, 7:00 PM | Clark Athletic Center
Vs. Alfred University | Saturday, October 10th, 1:00 PM | Clark Athletic Center
 
 
Trax Fax:

• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) continues to pace the Utica offense, entering the week with 177 kills and 204.5 total points while averaging 3.34 kills and 3.86 points per set. She is coming off one of her strongest weekends of the season, totaling 37 kills across Utica's wins over Keuka and Elmira, including 19 in the five-set victory over the Wolves and 18 in the sweep of the Soaring Eagles.
• Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) has remained the centerpiece of Utica's defense, totaling 345 digs while averaging 5.95 per set. She added 43 digs across the Pioneers' first two Empire 8 matches, highlighted by a season-high 33 against Keuka. Wright has consistently given Utica a reliable presence in serve receive and extended rallies while continuing to build on her program-record career digs total.
• Utica has collected 984 digs through 59 sets this season, an average of 16.68 per set. Wright leads the way individually, but the Pioneers have received contributions throughout the rotation, allowing them to stay alive in longer points and create additional opportunities for the offense. That defensive consistency will be important during a three-match homestand against SUNY Poly, Houghton and Alfred.
• The Pioneers have recorded 131 service aces this season, giving them another way to generate momentum without relying solely on their attack. Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) leads Utica with 26 aces, while Bailey and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) have each added 25. With three players already at 25 or more, opposing serve-receive units will have multiple threats to account for throughout the rotation.
• Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) gave Utica a major boost during its opening Empire 8 weekend, totaling 24 kills across the two victories. Her biggest performance came against Keuka, where she matched Bailey with 19 kills in the five-set win. Hanba committed only three attack errors on 52 swings over the weekend, hitting .404 and giving the Pioneers another efficient option alongside Bailey on the attack.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
SUNY Polytechnic Institute

• Record: 2-15
• Recent Matches: SUNY Poly split its opening Empire 8 weekend, falling to Keuka 3-1 on before earning a 3-0 sweep over Elmira on Oct. 3.
• Stat Leaders: Kassity Cruz leads the Wildcats offensively with 96 kills, averaging 3.20 kills per set and 3.52 points per set. Olivia Linart follows with 64 kills, while Camryn Clark has 59 and Kara Stephens has 56. Grace Southwick leads the team with 281 assists and 5.20 assists per set. Defensively, Daniella Aluisio has a team-high 229 digs at 4.09 per set, while Mylee Magnanti leads SUNY Poly with 18 total blocks.
• What to Watch For: Cruz has been the focal point of the SUNY Poly attack and averages nearly twice as many kills per set as any other Wildcat with significant playing time. The Wildcats are hitting .087 as a team, so Utica will look to keep Poly out of system and make it difficult for Southwick to consistently find Cruz. Aluisio has also provided a strong presence in the back row, giving the Wildcats a reliable defensive option in longer rallies.

 
Houghton University

• Record: 6-10
• Recent Matches: Houghton opened Empire 8 play with a 3-1 win over Nazareth before dropping a 3-1 decision to St. John Fisher and a 3-0 non-conference match against Buffalo State on Oct. 3.
• Stat Leaders: Alexa Belanger leads the Highlanders with 216 kills, averaging 3.72 kills per set while hitting .236. Petra Thomas has added 95 kills and is hitting .272, while Praylan Perkins has recorded 89 kills. Morgan Brace directs the offense with 471 assists at 7.85 per set and also leads Houghton with 27 service aces. Paige Brennan leads the defense with 184 digs, while Thomas has a team-high 24 total blocks.
• What to Watch For: Belanger has been Houghton's go-to attacker, taking 554 swings and accounting for a large portion of the Highlanders' offensive production. Utica will also have to account for Thomas in the middle, where she has been Houghton's most efficient regular attacker. Brace gives the Highlanders another weapon from both the setter position and service line, making serve receive and keeping Houghton out of system important for the Pioneers.

 
Alfred University

• Record: 7-12
• Recent Matches: Alfred split its first two Empire 8 contests, falling to St. John Fisher in three sets before responding with a 3-1 victory over Nazareth.
• Stat Leaders: Carleigh Santavy leads Alfred with 154 kills and 196.5 total points, averaging 2.44 kills and 3.12 points per set. Abigail Omelan has added 112 kills, while Julia Abbott has 109. Gillian Dickerson leads the Saxons with 289 assists at 4.59 per set. Madalynn McGowan has a team-high 192 digs at 3.15 per set, while Cara Bratthauar leads Alfred at the net with 33 total blocks. McGowan has also recorded 33 service aces, while Santavy and Omelan have 30 apiece.
• What to Watch For: Alfred's service game could be one of the biggest factors in Saturday's matchup, with several Saxons capable of creating pressure from behind the line. Santavy is the primary offensive option, but Omelan and Abbott give Alfred additional threats on the attack. The Saxons also have multiple contributors at the net, led by Bratthauar, Whitney Kilton and Santavy, so Utica will need to remain efficient offensively while limiting free points in serve receive.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers return home on Friday, October 16 for their Fight for the Cure Match against Hartwick College at 7 p.m. before traveling to Albany for the Russell Sage Tri Match on Saturday, October 17, where they will face Russell Sage College at noon and St. Lawrence University at 2:30 p.m.
 
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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