UTICA, NY - Jake Bowen (Williston, VT/Champlain Valley Union) and Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) have been named the Pioneer Athletes of the Week for the week of April 13th, 2026.

Bowen and the Pioneers faced SUNY Poly and SUNY Brockport in their E8 games last week, taking wins by scores of 17-10 and 12-8. Bowen, a senior, has continued his tenure in net, playing between the pipes in both wins. In a road matchup with the Wildcats, Bowen saved 13 of 23 shots before backstopping Utica with 11 saves on 19 shots at home against the Golden Eagles. His .571 save percentage through the last 120:00 improves him to an even .500 in 2026.

Bowen and the men's lacrosse team will be back on Wednesday afternoon to play host to Russell Sage. That game gets underway at 4:00 PM from Gaetano Stadium. The team will also welcome Alfred University this Saturday in a massive Senior Day showdown.

Graziano put together a dominant all-around weekend, leading the Pioneers both at the plate and in the circle across a 2-2 week. At the plate, Graziano was one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup, batting .571 (8-for-14) with five runs scored, five RBIs, two doubles, and a home run. She slugged .929 and reached base at a .571 rate, totaling 13 bases while recording at least one hit in every game of the four-game slate. Graziano's impact extended into the circle, where she earned two wins in relief, going a perfect 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA over 10.0 innings. She allowed just four earned runs on nine hits while striking out six and holding opposing hitters to a strong 1.20 WHIP. Highlighting her weekend, Graziano tossed a five-inning starting effort in an 11-6 win over Geneseo, allowing just five runs while striking out four, before returning to secure another win against Brockport, surrendering just one run over a complete five innings in a 9-1 victory.

Graziano and the softball team will continue their home stand tomorrow afternoon when they welcome Russell Sage to Greenman Field. Tomorrow's doubleheader begins at 3:00.