UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's soccer team is slated to begin the 2026 season with two upcoming road contests. Looking to jump ahead early and have another strong season, the Pioneers will challenge SUNY Canton and Hamilton College in their season-opening matchups. The squad returns to Utica for their home opener next Monday, September 7th, when Oswego State comes to Casamento Field.

Follow Along: For the game in Canton, a video stream is available HERE, with live stats found HERE. For the Hamilton College game, the video stream is available HERE, while a live stats feed is available HERE.

The video stream for all Utica home events can be found HERE, with live stats available HERE for all Utica men's soccer home games.

Back in Business: Utica men's soccer returns to action, coming off one of the team's strongest seasons. The squad posted a 9-5-5 overall record in 2025, the first nine-win season since 2021 and one of just three 9+ win seasons since 2013. Additionally, Utica entered the Empire 8 postseason as the #5 seed, the squad's fourth appearance in the last five seasons. The Pioneers made the most of the opportunity, taking a 5-1 upset over St. John Fisher in the First Round, advancing to the semifinals for the third time since 2020. 

The orange and blue's season came to a close in heartbreaking fashion, falling in the Semifinals. Following a tying goal by Jalen Lucero (Albuquerque, NM/Higley) at the 88:41 mark, the Pioneers entered overtime, and eventually penalty kicks, tied 1-1 against the #1-seeded SUNY Geneseo Knights. After taking the penalty kick portion 5-4, Geneseo went on to win the conference title.

Minds Behind the Match: Head coach Brian Marcantonio will lead the squad for his 13th consecutive season. Marcantonio, the program's longest-tenured headman, has posted a 72-106-27 (.417) overall record and a 31-47-15 (.414) record within the conference. He has been on a strong rise over recent seasons, with the 2019 season serving as a turning point. In his first five seasons, Marcantonio began with a 27-56-7 record (.339), including a 7-9-3 record and a postseason appearance in his debut season, but hitting over five wins just once more until 2019 (8-9-2 in 2017). From 2019 to the present, he has led the Pioneers to a 45-50-20 (.478) record and several postseason appearances, including a run to the E8 Championship game in the 2022 season.

Transitioning from player to coach, Byamungu Mugushu will stay with the program as an assistant coach. Mugushu, a five-year Pioneer himself, closes his playing career as quite possibly the greatest offensive player to wear the orange and blue. The program's career record book is covered by Mugushu's name, as he sits inside the top seven in all 10 offensive stats tracked. Among those 10 categories, he holds the program record for total points (91), total goals scored (37), game-winning goals (13), and shots on goal (100).

Rejoining the coaching staff are assistant coach Eddy Rosenburgh and goalkeeping coach Bobby Kane. Kane enters his second season with the Pioneers after joining the program in August 2025, bringing more than a decade of coaching experience and 10 years at the collegiate level. His previous collegiate stops include SUNY Potsdam, Allegheny College, and Hamilton College, where he served as an assistant with the women's soccer program.

The Schedule Ahead: The Pioneers' 2026 schedule will feature 17 regular-season games. The better half of those will be hosted in front of the home crowd, as Utica stands in as the home team in nine contests. 

The front half of September will see the orange and blue battle in six non-conference matchups. The season begins with road matchups with SUNY Canton and Hamilton College. Utica's home opener will come on Monday, September 7th, when Oswego State comes to Casamento Field for a 4:00 pm contest. Two days later, the Pioneers will travel to face Hobart College before closing their non-conference slate with home matchups against SUNY Morrisville (Sept. 12) and SUNY Delhi (Sept. 15).

Inside the Empire 8, the Pioneers begin on the road before playing five of their next six conference games at home. Utica will look to use a boost at home to set itself up for the postseason early, as three of the team's final four games will take place in front of opposing home crowds. If the orange and blue can punch their ticket for another E8 playoff appearance, postseason play will begin on October 31st.

Primed for Impact: With the departure of some key contributors, several returning Pioneers appear poised to take jumps in the 2026 season. Among these players are the team's four captains: Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point), Maximilian Pawlowski (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), Joe Cavallo, and Tyler Mormando (Wantagh, NY/General Douglas MacArthur). Bucher has seen his role with the team take large strides season by season. After playing just 20:00 in two games as a freshman, he turned in 375:45 in 14 games as a sophomore, and finished his junior season with two goals and one assist, his first collegiate points, in 769:58, courtesy of 17 appearances and 12 starts. Pawlowski, who transferred to Utica to begin his junior season, has played 1784:01 in the past two seasons, recording one goal and five assists in his 26 games, 21 of them starts. Cavallo, the only other second-year captain, has been a staple of Utica lineups in all three of his seasons in the orange and blue. His point-scoring has been limited to one goal and five assists in his 53 games, but his time on the pitch towers over that of fellow Pioneers. He has recorded 3417:19 of gametime, more than 1,000 minutes more than his next closest teammate (E. Smith - 2343:37), and one of just two active Utica players to reach 1,800+. The unit's final captain slot is occupied by Mormando, a senior, who has appeared in 10 games in his career.

Another group of prospective breakouts comes from a duo of sophomore forwards who made strong contributions in their rookie season, both earning E8 All-Conference selections. Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland) just led the point scoring, turning in five goals and six assists for 16 total points. He grew into his role over the season, including starting each of the team's final five games. This span of starts coincided with a five-game stretch in which Cookinham recorded eight points. The other 2025 freshman star, Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton), followed closely in the point scoring, but edged out Cookinham in participation. He appeared in all 19 games, 12 of them started, playing a total of 923:18. In that time, Schweitzer netted five goals and assisted another four.

Further contributions are expected from returning senior forward Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) and defenders Justin Clarke (East Setauket, NY/Ward-Melville) and Ryan Schlachter (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix). Loselose has built upon his minutes played each of his three seasons with the team, scoring twice as a junior, his first collegiate goals. In total, he has played 44 games over the last three seasons, recording 1251:41 of playtime. Clarke came in as a "plug and play" type of player on the defense last season. Playing 18 games, 16 of them starts, Clarke notched two goals and one assist across 1450:09 as a first year. Schlachter, a senior, stepped into a much larger role last year, a trend he will look to build on. After recording 222:31 of play in his first two seasons, Schlachter played in 16 games in 2025, totaling 802:53.

Passing the Torch: Following the end of the 2025 season, several notable Pioneers concluded their careers in the orange and blue. Atop the list of notable departures is new assistant coach Byamungu Mugushu. Mugushu, a five-year Pioneer, leaves the active roster following a strong case for the greatest single-season performance in program history. While his above-mentioned career stats already tell the tale of an incredibly valuable contributor, his stats from the 2025 season only add to it. Mugushu's single-season statistics again finished inside the top seven of all tracked offensive stats, but set the program single-season record for total points (39), points per game (2.29), goals (16), and game-winning goals (6). Utica men's soccer will now welcome Mugushu to its own sideline, hoping to see his scoring prowess translate to other Pioneers.

Utica will also have to replace the experience and production of Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast), Noah Scranton (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), Brandon Pender (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian), Martin Mendoza (Walden, NY/The Mount Academy), and Jalen Lucero (Albuquerque, NM/Higley). Nassberg concluded his career with 32 points on 11 goals and 10 assists across 67 appearances, including a career-high 13 points on four goals and five assists last season. Scranton and Pender were fixtures along the back line, combining for 132 starts during their four seasons with the Pioneers. Scranton started 72 of his 73 career appearances and logged a program record 6464:55 minutes, while Pender made 60 starts across 67 contests and totaled nearly 5,000 minutes. Mendoza appeared in 48 matches during his three seasons, recording six goals and four assists for 16 points, while Lucero supplied depth to the attack with four goals and three assists across 41 career appearances. Together, the five leave behind 296 appearances, 221 starts, and a significant amount of experience for Utica to replace.

The Pioneers will also move forward without Elias Ekelund (Borås, Sweden/Bäckängsgymnasiet), Osman Alexander Contreras Fuentes (Riverhead, NY/Riverhead), Soren Borger (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna), and Marlo Rogers-Collier (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta). Ekelund made an immediate impact during his limited time on the pitch, scoring twice across three appearances. Contreras Fuentes provided additional depth over six matches, while Borger appeared three times and Rogers-Collier took the field twice. Together, the group provided Utica with valuable bench options throughout the 2025 campaign.

Standing Guard: Utica enters the 2026 season with a deep and experienced goalkeeper room, setting the stage for competition for the starting role. Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) returns after receiving the majority of the work last season, starting 14 matches and posting a 6-3-4 record with 51 saves, a 1.45 goals-against average, and a .729 save percentage. Asim Gacic (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) also made a strong case across six appearances and three starts, finishing 3-1-1 with a 0.98 goals-against average and .733 save percentage.

Cade Tavares (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) and Cian LeVasseur (Salem, MA/St. Mary's) will also compete for opportunities after each made a start last season. Tavares allowed one goal over 90 minutes and recorded a .750 save percentage, while LeVasseur turned away 10 shots in his collegiate debut. Freshman Kael Hoselton (Watertown, NY/General Brown) rounds out the five-player room and will begin his first season with the program. With all four goalkeepers who saw action in 2025 returning, Utica will have several experienced options vying for time between the posts.

Ready for More: Several returning Pioneers will enter the season with opportunities to earn larger roles. Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) brings the most experience to the group, having appeared in 42 career matches with 28 starts and contributing two goals. Chase Abbott (Penfield, NY/Penfield) made four starts across 12 appearances during his freshman campaign, while Santiago Consalvo (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Boston College (Buenos Aires)) started three of his nine matches and logged nearly 300 minutes. Luciano Barreda (Lima, Peru/Santa Maria Marianistas) and Ervin Ruznic (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) each found the back of the net during their first seasons at Utica, with Barreda scoring against Keuka and Ruznic striking against Marywood. Both senior midfielders will look to build upon those moments and become more consistent pieces of the Pioneer attack.

Opportunities will also be available throughout a defense tasked with replacing several longtime starters. Carson Rother (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) is the most experienced option in that group, entering his senior season with 29 appearances, 14 starts, and 1232:22 in career minutes played. Jackson Petzoldt (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) made four starts across 13 contests as a freshman, while Logan Mitchell (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) and Adelin Buljubasic (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) each appeared seven times. Connor Hillis (Vestal, NY/Vestal) made one start over three appearances, with Jayden Schneider (Huntington, NY/Huntington) seeing action in three matches and Spencer Davies (Peru, NY/Peru) making his collegiate debut. Thierry Vassell (Kingston, NY/Kingston) and Stavi Ruhusa (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) will also compete for expanded roles after not appearing during the 2025 campaign. With playing time available across the formation, Utica will look to this collection of returners to provide greater depth and emerge as reliable contributors.

Reporting for Duty: Utica will welcome 12 newcomers to the program, including two transfers with collegiate experience. Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) arrives after two seasons at NCAA Division II Franklin Pierce University, where he appeared in three matches as a sophomore. A two-time all-conference selection before beginning his collegiate career, the junior midfielder projects as one of the team's top newcomers. Griffin Condit (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) joins the Pioneers after spending two seasons at Salve Regina University and appearing in three matches. The 6-foot-2 junior will provide additional size and experience to the midfield.

The incoming class also features several decorated first-year midfielders. Antoni Kulak (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage) was a four-year varsity player, two-time all-county selection, and 2025 team MVP, while Jeremy Velez (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) earned AAA All-Nassau County honors and served as a team captain during his senior season. Velez was also recognized among Long Island's top 100 boys' soccer players. Sam Peckinpaugh (Windsor, VT/Vermont Academy (Prep)), who can contribute in the midfield or along the back line, earned consecutive Division II all-state and first-team all-league selections in 2024 and 2025. Patrick Walsh (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) was an all-conference selection and played on back-to-back undefeated Conference AA1 championship teams, while Charly Bi (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) earned sectional first-team honors and helped his team reach a sectional final.

Landen Hughes (Canastota, NY/Canastota) brings versatility as a midfield and defensive option following a multi-sport high school career that included two all-league soccer selections, four all-league golf honors, and two all-league football selections. Liam Gragnano (Lynbrook, NY/Kellenberg Memorial), a four-year varsity player, and Spencer Budris (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) add two more options to the Pioneer defense. Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) joins the attack as the lone freshman listed primarily at forward, while Lucas Correale (New Hyde Park, NY/Herricks) rounds out the incoming midfield group. The newcomers give Utica added depth throughout the formation, with Arias and Condit positioned to compete for immediate roles and the 10-player freshman class beginning its development within the program.

Recon on the Roos: SUNY Canton will look to rebound after finishing the 2025 season with a 3-15-1 overall record and a 1-8 mark in conference play. The Kangaroos earned victories over SUNY Poly, Keuka, and SUNY Potsdam, shutting out the latter two by identical 2-0 scores. Canton struggled to generate consistent offense, scoring 12 goals across 19 matches and being held scoreless 12 times. The Roos were outshot 319-150 and surrendered 47 goals while closing the season on a five-match losing streak.

Markel Mosley returns as the centerpiece of the Canton attack after leading the team with four goals and eight points last season. The forward has produced seven goals and 14 points across 34 career appearances. Demetrius Blake Jr. finished second on the team with five points, recording one goal and a team-high three assists during his first collegiate season. Lucas Damon added a goal across 17 appearances, while David Bermeo and Justin Sarmiento each supplied an assist. Canton will have to replace Hayden Brimelow and Chris Escobar, who combined for four goals and accounted for each of the team's three game-winners.

The Roos return several experienced pieces defensively, led by Kevin Hilario, who started all 19 matches and logged 1,647 minutes. Bermeo made 18 starts, while Greg Vescovi, Hugo Sanchez, and Christopher Guallpa each started at least 10 contests. Canton also brings back three of their four goalkeepers. Joey Raap led the group with 59 saves and a .747 save percentage across 14 appearances, while Jason Vela recorded a team-best 1.94 goals-against average over five matches. Nolan Sullivan provides another experienced option with 95 saves across his two seasons with the program.

Handbook on Hamilton: Hamilton finished its first season under head coach Brendan Ujvary with a 7-5-3 overall record and a 2-5-3 mark in NESCAC play. The Continentals outscored their opponents 19-11 and recorded seven shutouts. They ended the campaign with consecutive victories, including a 2-1 win over Utica in a late-October thriller.

Hamilton returns each of its leading offensive contributors. Patrick Ferrare paced the team with five goals, two assists, and 12 points, while Zach Tracy added four goals. Sean Curran and Aidan Falvey each scored twice during their first collegiate seasons, with Falvey finding the net against Utica. Troy Miller contributed one goal and two assists while leading the team with 42 shots, and Oliver Mylon recorded a team-high three assists.

The Continentals also retain an experienced defensive unit led by Adam Molusis, Brady Hyland, and William Fauth, who each started all 15 games. Peter Montesano Scheibe made 10 starts in goal, posting a 0.72 goals-against average, .811 save percentage, and four shutouts. Tobin Walsh added a 3-1 record, 0.75 goals-against average, and two shutouts across four starts.

Up Next: After opening with two road contests in their first week, the Pioneers will have their busiest week of the season the following week. Oswego State will come to Casamento Field for Utica's home opener on Monday, September 7th. Two days later, the Pioneers travel to face Hobart College before returning to Utica for a home matchup against SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, the 12th.