UTICA, NY - The Empire 8 has announced its All-Conference selections for the 2026 men's soccer season. After a 9-7-2 overall record and earning the E8 Tournament second seed with a program-best 7-3-1 in-conference record, the Pioneers were well represented, taking home a Goalkeeper of the Year award and five players across the First, Second, and Third Teams.
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) - Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year / First Team Selection (GK)
Accetta recorded 83 saves and six shutouts in 16 starts, allowing 10 goals across 1,305 minutes for a 0.69 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage. Five of his shutouts came against Empire 8 opponents. His season/career-high of 16 saves came against SUNY Brockport on Senior Night, when he helped deliver a 2-0 victory for Utica's first win over the Golden Eagles. After the Brockport win, Accetta briefly led the nation in save percentage across all three NCAA divisions. One week later, the senior stopped all seven shots on goal in a 1-0 win at Nazareth, a result that ultimately gave the Pioneers the head-to-head tiebreaker for the #2 seed.
Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) - Empire 8 First Team Selection (DEF)
Cavallo led the Pioneers with 1,505 minutes and was one of two players to start all 18 matches. The senior captain played every minute of Utica's seven-game unbeaten stretch, helping the defense record four shutouts during that run. He also had a hand in two goals in a 3-2 win over Houghton, scoring the equalizer in the 32nd minute before his second-half corner kick set up the go-ahead goal.
Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland) - Empire 8 Second Team Selection (FWD)
Cookinham finished second on the team with four goals and 10 points, adding two assists and leading Utica with 30 shot attempts. The sophomore scored all four goals in a pair of October home wins. Against Brockport, he put Utica ahead a minute before halftime and added a second-half header in a 2-0 victory. Against SUNY Poly, he scored twice in 37 seconds to secure a 2-1 Crosstown Showdown win and a home postseason game.
Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) - Empire 8 Second Team Selection (MID)
Loselose led Utica with six goals, 14 points, and three game-winners. The senior scored four times in three consecutive conference wins, starting with the lone goal at Keuka. He followed with two goals just 4:16 apart against Houghton, then contributed a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory over St. John Fisher. Loselose converted all three of his penalty kick attempts on the season, including the game-winner at Nazareth.
Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) - Empire 8 Third Team Selection (MID)
Arias started all 18 matches in his first season at Utica after transferring from Franklin Pierce. The junior tied for the team lead with three assists and ranked second with 1,369 minutes played. He contributed to both goals in Utica's first conference win, sending in the cross that led to the opening goal before heading in the second himself in a 2-0 victory over Hartwick. Arias added assists in home wins over Houghton and Brockport, earning all five of his points against Empire 8 opponents.
Tyler Mormando (Wantagh, NY/General Douglas MacArthur) - Empire 8 Tomorrow's Leaders Team
Mormando served as a senior captain and was selected as Utica's representative on the Tomorrow's Leaders Team. The Empire 8 recognizes one student-athlete from each team who demonstrates leadership in competition, the classroom, and the community while setting an example of integrity and sportsmanship.
After making two appearances in 2025, Mormando played 833 minutes across 13 matches as a senior, including nine starts. He started all four wins that opened Utica's seven-game unbeaten stretch, playing the full 90 minutes against Keuka, Houghton, and St. John Fisher before logging 66 minutes in the 2-0 win over Brockport.
