UTICA, NY - Welcome to Utica Athletics' new weekly preview - the Pioneer Primer - where you can catch up on everything that happened the prior week and get up to speed on everything coming up in the world of Utica Athletics! This weekly preview will be posted on Monday afternoons and will contain all the information you need to know about the Pioneers!
 
To Read About a Specific Team, Click the Team Below:
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Women's Soccer
Men's Soccer
Women's Tennis
Volleyball
Coming Up Soon

Pioneer Athletes of the Week:
Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) - Men's Cross Country
Samantha Ferguson (Westmoreland, NY/Westmoreland) - Women'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:
Tuesday, September 15th
    4:00 PM - Women's Soccer vs SUNY Morrisville | Gaetano Stadium
    4:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs SUNY Delhi | Casamento Field
Wednesday, September 16th
    4:00 PM - Field Hockey @ SUNY Morrisville | Drake Field
    7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs SUNY Cobleskill (First Responders Match) | Miga Court
Friday, September 18th
    4:00 PM - Women's Tennis @ Hartwick | Wilbur Park Courts
    7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Bard | Oswego, NY - Max Zeil Gym (Oswego St. Invitational)
Saturday, September 19th
    1:00 PM - Football vs Hobart College (Mohawk Valley Challengers Day) | Gaetano Stadium
    1:00 PM - Women's Tennis vs SUNY Geneseo | Utica Tennis Courts
    1:00 PM - Women's Soccer vs SUNY Geneseo | Casamento Field
    1:00 PM - Field Hockey @ SUNY Geneseo | College Stadium
    4:00 PM - Men's Soccer @ SUNY Geneseo | College Stadium
    4:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Clarkson | Oswego, NY - Max Zeil Gym (Oswego St. Invitational)
    6:00 PM - Women's Volleyball @ Oswego St. | Oswego, NY - Max Zeil Gym (Oswego St. Invitational)
 
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 head into an off week after competing at the Hamilton College Short Course Invitational.
 
Last Week's Action:

• Men: The Pioneers finished fourth out of 11 teams with 107 points. Sophomore Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) led Utica with a second-place finish in the 5K, crossing in 15:54.8, while senior Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) followed in fifth at 16:01.8.
• Women: Utica placed seventh with 227 points, led by junior Catherine Manna's (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) 19th-place finish in the 4K at 15:50.1. Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Nicole Arnhold (Hampton, NY/Granville), Tara Fobare (Sauquoit, NY/New Hartford), and Courtney Pettit (Walworth, NY/Wayne) completed the Pioneers' scoring five.

 
Next Week's Schedule:
At RPI Fairgrounds Showdown - Saturday, September 26th
Women: 10:00 AM
Men: 11:00 AM
 
Trax Fax:

• Bauer has opened his sophomore season with consecutive runner-up finishes, placing second at both SUNY Poly and Hamilton. He and Melita have each finished inside the top five in both meets.
• The men have relied on the same scoring five through their opening two races, with Bauer, Melita, Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central), Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central), and Brandon Knisely (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) contributing each time. Jeralds has been the third Pioneer across the line in both outings, while Martin and Knisely exchanged the fourth and fifth team positions at Hamilton.
• Graduate transfer Arnhold and freshman Fobare have made immediate contributions to the women's lineup, scoring in both meets. Arnhold was Utica's fourth finisher at SUNY Poly and third at Hamilton, while Fobare finished fifth and fourth among the Pioneers, respectively.

 
Up Next: Both teams will travel to Greenwich, NY to take on the RPI Fairgrounds Showdown on Saturday, September 26. Start time for the women is set for 10am, while start time for the men is set for 11am.

 
Field Hockey - Field hockey will hit the road this week for a pair of crucial matchups. On Wednesday, the squad looks for a big victory against Morrisville, while on Saturday, the team heads to reigning Empire 8 Champion Geneseo to open conference play.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs RPI | Saturday, September 12th

• L, 4-1 (Spiezio 1g, Benincasa 1a)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The team went toe-to-toe with powerful Liberty League side RPI, holding a tie until the 47th minute when the Engineers managed to break the deadlock and storm ahead for the 4-1 win.
• For the second straight matchup, the Pioneer defense was incredibly strong until the very end, with the team having limited St. Lawrence and RPI to just one goal combined over the first three quarters of each matchup, also outscoring those opponents 2-1 over the same span.
• Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) threaded the needle in the 20th minute of play, finding Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) at the back post to help the Pioneers equalize just a few minutes after the Engineers' opening goal.
• The Pioneers' last two performances against two top-tier teams show a lot of promise for the young team looking ahead to the rest of the season.

This Week's Schedule:
At Morrisville State - Wednesday, September 16th, 4:00 PM | Drake Field
At SUNY Geneseo - Saturday, September 19th, 1:00 PM | College Stadium
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers have scored four goals and contributed four assists in the 2026 campaign. Among those tallies, four goals and three assists have been recorded by Section II graduates, with just one point, a Keeley Savona (Kingston, NY/Kingston) assist, being accrued by a player from outside the Capital Region.
• The Pioneers' Section II connection was covered during this past week's Feature Friday article titled The Greenwich Girls: Utica Field Hockey's Section II Connection. To read the article and get caught up on the team's Section II ties, head to the following link: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2026/9/11/the-greenwich-girls-utica-field-hockeys-section-ii-connection.aspx
• Utica has been dangerous on penalty corners this season, with three of their four goals coming off the set. The Pioneers struck twice from the set against Skidmore, and once this past weekend against RPI. These marks have seen the team score once every seven penalty corners, a number that could improve over the next few games as the team settles into its playstyle.

Upcoming Opponents:
Morrisville State

• Record: 2-2
• Recent Matches: This past week, Morrisville fell by a 7-2 final against St. John Fisher at home, before bouncing back with a big road victory against Keuka. That Keuka match saw the team win 4-0 and capture its first shutout since last October against Alfred University.
• Stat Leaders: Sophomore star Lilly Bagg leads the scoring with five goals and one assist. Melissa Beaver (2g, 5a), and Chloe Curtis (3g, 2a) also provide some solid scoring output for the Mustangs.
• What to Watch For: Morrisville does well to both get penalty corner attempts and limit opposing attempts, having 27 corners to 26 by their opposition, which is factoring in two tough games against St. Lawrence and St. John Fisher. The Pioneers have to get their open-field offense clicking, or find a way to force Morrisville into a few mishaps within their own circle to get corner attempts.

SUNY Geneseo

• Record: 3-2
• Recent Matches: The Knights picked up their first pair of losses this past weekend, losing a pair of 1-2 decisions at home to William Smith and Ithaca, respectively. Those two matches were the Knights' first two home contests of the 2026 season. They will have the entire week off before facing the Pioneers at home this Saturday.
• Stat Leaders: The Knights have a very balanced attack, with their scoring chart topped by a trio of attackers. Ava Harman (3g, 3a), Ella Greico (3g, 1a), and Aubree Wenner (3g, 1a) each lead the team with three goals apiece.
• What to Watch For: Geneseo has scheduled a gauntlet to start the 2026 season, battling against RPI (W, 4-3), Skidmore (W, 4-1), Vassar (W, 3-2 2OT), William Smith (L, 1-2 OT), and Ithaca (L, 1-2). The Knights are no stranger to crunch time, having already played two overtime games and four one-score games. The Knights will get progressively harder to beat as the clock ticks towards the final buzzer.       

Up Next: Field hockey will have another week off before returning to Gaetano Stadium on Saturday, September 26th for a matchup with Elmira College. That game starts at 2:00 PM down at Gaetano Stadium.


 
Football - Football welcomes a sturdy Hobart Statesmen squad who stopped them in their tracks last season. Now at home, the team will look to continue its run and takedown a tough Hobart team who is also out to a 2-0 start in 2026.
 
Last Week's Results
At RPI | Saturday, September 12th

• W, 38-14 (Taylor 4 rec, 244 yds, 1 TD, E8 POTW, Szalkowski 29 comp, 402 yds, 2 TDs)

Last Week's Action:

• The team used a massive passing day and four takeaways to build up a big advantage on the road against a tough RPI team, eventually taking the game to start 2-0 for the second straight season.
• Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) was rewarded for his performance with an Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week nod. His 244 yards was second all-time in program history for single-game reception yards, falling just short of Anthony Acevedo's 252-yard performance in 2013.
• Gabe Zawolo also had a massive day, catching 13 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. Zawolo's 13 receptions fell just one short of the single-game program record, which is held by Jerred Beniquez, who caught 14 passes back in 2016.
• Head Coach Blaise Faggiano achieved his 100th career win as the lead man of Pioneer football. He became the 23rd active coach to have over 100 wins, and now posts a 100-82 record.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs Hobart - Saturday, September 19th, 1:00 PM | Mohawk Valley Challengers Day | Gaetano Stadium
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers fell just outside the D3football.com top 25 poll, which was released on Sunday afternoon. They remain tied with Franklin and Marshall as the two top vote-getters with 50 each, which would mean that either team likely moves into the poll with a win this coming week. The Pioneers were last ranked in the D3football.com Top 25 following the legendary 2022 run that brought the Pioneers to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. They were ranked #20 in the final Top 25 poll of the season.
• The team took down RPI in what was D3football.com's Region II game to watch, and they'll have the spotlight on them once again, as D3football.com listed their week three matchup against Hobart as the Region II game to watch this coming week.
• Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) joined Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) as an Empire 8 weekly honoree, extending the team's streak of receiving at least one Empire 8 weekly award to three weeks, dating back to the final week of last season when both Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley) were honored. Taylor also has a stellar shot at finding a spot among tomorrow's D3football.com National Team of the Week, which would be the team's fourth selection over the past three weeks dating back to last season. Frederick was selected last week, and was also selected during last season's final Team of the Week alongside the Pioneer O-Line.
• The Pioneer defense has been stellar over the past few seasons, only allowing one of their previous six opponents to score more than 20 points (Rowan scored 26 during last year's ECAC Bushnell Bowl). In addition, to further showcase the Pioneers' control over the airways, the team has not allowed an opposing quarterback to throw for over 200 yards since Washington and Jefferson signal-caller Kellan Stahl did so in last year's season-opener. It's been 12 games since the Pioneers allowed a quarterback over 200 yards; meanwhile, Szalkowski has tossed for over 200 yards in all 12 games across that span, never having gone under 200 passing yards while in the orange and blue. His lowest yardage is 249 yards, which came against Morrisville State last season.

Upcoming Opponents:
Hobart College

• Record: 2-0 (vs Alfred U - W, 24-17, vs Brockport - W, 27-14)
• Recent Matchups:
  • Against Alfred University, the Statesmen used a second-half safety and a 72-yard receiving score by EJ Taylor to take a lead, one which they wouldn't relinquish thanks to seven sacks against the Saxons. The seven sacks ranked second in Hobart single-game history.
  • Against Brockport, the Statesmen picked off Golden Eagle quarterback Ben Gocella on five separate occasions and scored 17 points off those turnovers, which directly gave them the win. A sturdy Statesmen defense also held Brockport to just 2-for-10 on third down. Hobart sealed the win with a 67-yard pick-6.
• Stat Leaders:
  • Offense - QB Aidan Conrath, 25 completions, 314 yards, three touchdowns, 56.8% completion percentage.
    • RB EJ Taylor, 49 attempts, 229 rushing yards, two touchdowns, 4.6 yards per carry, four receptions, 81 receiving yards, one touchdown.
    • WR Marcus Peterson, five receptions, 99 receiving yards.
  • Defense - DB Zeshan Dixon, 17 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups.
    • DL Billy Brosko, nine tackles, two sacks, three quarterback hurries
    • DL Hunter Vos, six tackles, 2.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries.
• Series History: The Pioneers and Statesmen have met on four previous occasions. Hobart leads the series 3-1. However, the Pioneers' lone win was during the 2023 Clayton Chapman Bowl. This will be the first meeting in Utica since 2012, the first-ever matchup between the two programs.
• Notes:
  • The Pioneer rushing defense will be in for a big test this weekend, as they look to slow down a potent rushing attack that had gone for 200 yards in six straight games prior to last weekend's matchup against Brockport.
  • Running back EJ Taylor will be on the top of the Pioneer scouting report, as the backfield bruiser has rushed for over 3000 yards and 34 touchdowns during his Hobart career.
  • Hobart's dominance in the rushing game means the Pioneers will have to score early and often against the Statesmen, as the Liberty League side can drain the clock extremely quickly when given a lead.
  • Hobart will look to slow the game down, preferring to play their matchups in low-scoring, rugged affairs. This game will be a massive clash of styles as the Pioneers look to play at their preferred tempo.

Up Next: Football will head to Alfred State next Saturday for a 1:00 PM meeting with the opposing Pioneers. That game will take place at Pioneer Field in Alfred, New York.


 
Golf - Utica's men's and women's golf teams prepare for their home invitational after opening the 2026-27 season at St. Lawrence.
 
Last Action (9/5 & 9/6):

• Men: The Pioneers placed 11th out of 13 teams at the St. Lawrence University Invitational, combining rounds of 319 and 307 for a two-day total of 626. Senior Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, Ontario/Blyth Academy) led Utica with rounds of 74 and 75, tying for 14th at five over par.
• Women: Utica did not record a team score, with only three golfers competing in the opening round. Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) led the Pioneers in 34th place, followed by Jordan Dorrity (Constableville, NY/South Lewis Central) in 35th and Sianna Kenyon (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) in 36th. 

Trax Fax:

• The men lowered their team score by 12 strokes between rounds at St. Lawrence. All six Pioneers finished within three strokes of one another on the second day, with Parekh shooting 75, Louie Roman (Oswego, NY/Oswego) and Koltin Pickell (Ellenville, NY/Ellenvlle) recording 77s, and Daniel Maloney (Syracuse, NY/Living Word Academy), Jacob Martyniuk (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/East Grand Rapids) each carding 78.
• Dorrity trimmed 14 strokes from her opening-round score, following a 108 with a 94 to record Utica's lowest women's round of the tournament. Kenyon also improved on day two, lowering her score by eight strokes from 113 to 105.
• Freshman Olivia Peckham (Shaftsbury, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) made her collegiate debut during the second round at St. Lawrence, joining Draper, Dorrity, and Kenyon on the course.

Up Next: Both teams host the Casler Masonry Invitational on September 20 and 21 at Yahnundasis Golf Club. Start times will be announced at a later date.
 


Women's Soccer - Women's Soccer looks to build on its 2-1 win over Oswego State, moving to 2-2-1 on the season.
 
Last Week's Results:
At Fredonia | Friday, September 11th

• L, 1-0 (Duro 7 sv, Kraft 3 sog)

Vs Oswego (Fredonia) | Saturday, September 12th

• W, 2-1 (Ferguson 1g, Hewson 1g, Martin 1a, Dischiavo 1a, Duro 5 sv)

Last Week's Action:

• Fredonia: Utica opened the annual Blue Devil Clarion Classic vs. Fredonia State in a 1-0 loss. The hosts scored within 15 minutes and held onto the lead despite pressure from the Pioneers. Utica forced seven saves out of the Fredonia goalkeeper.
• Oswego State: Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) grabbed the early advantage for Utica, and Oswego equalized a minute later. Both teams pressed for the lead, but S. Ferguson scored the winner in the 56th minute.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs SUNY Morrisville, Tuesday, September 15th, 4:00 PM | Gaetano Stadium
Vs SUNY Geneseo, Saturday, September 19th, 1:00 PM | Casamento Field
 
Trax Fax:

• Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh) and Ella Dischiavo (Utica, NY/Sauquoit Valley) registered points against Oswego State, making them the points leaders of the team so far. Natalia Bell (Cortland, NY/Groton) registered three shots on goal last week, totaling seven for the season and tying her single-season career high already.
• The Pioneers grabbed their first win over Oswego State since 2012, which was also a 2-1 win. Utica turns a new chapter in this historical matchup dating back to 1994.
• Goalkeeper Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) equaled her career single-season high saves with 22 through five games.
• Since their opening day defeat, Utica has conceded only two goals in the following four games. The Pioneers are built on strong defense, giving themselves opportunities to win close games, as seen vs. Oswego State.

Upcoming Opponents:
    SUNY Morrisville

• Record: 3-2
• Recent Matches: Morrisville won both matches last week, combining for five goals and two clean sheets vs. Cobleskill and Maritime.
• Stat Leaders: Gina Blake and Briana Repscher lead the team with two goals each and two assists each. The pair of attackers have started the season hot. Goalkeeper Ainslie Romasco starts the year with two clean sheets and 22 total saves.
• What to Watch For: Morrisville has failed to score in both of their losses this season, while keeping clean sheets in all of their wins. The Pioneers face a volatile Mustangs squad, eager to score goals.

    SUNY Geneseo

• Record: 2-2-1
• Recent Matches: The Knights split their games last week with a loss vs. Oswego State and a victory over Alfred.
• Stat Leaders: Ella Yartym leads the Knights with three goals, two coming in last week's win over Alfred. The forward stands out, leading the team in goals, points, and shots on goal, where she nearly triples the second-highest. Goalkeeper Emily McLouth has recorded two shutouts in four games, tallying 13 saves.
• What to Watch For: Geneseo and Utica start conference play in Saturday's matchup, with both teams looking to perform at higher levels. With both sides entering the contest 2-2-1, fans can expect a close contest.

 
Up Next: Women's Soccer hits the road for a pair of conference away matchups. The Pioneers will face Hartwick on Wednesday, Saturday 23rd at 6:00 PM, followed by Alfred on September 26th at 7:00 PM.
 


Men's Soccer - Men's soccer closed a busy week with a 3-2 victory over SUNY Morrisville, moving to 2-2-1 overall after posting a win, loss, and draw across three matches.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Oswego State | Monday, September 7th

• T, 1-1 (Loselose - 1g, Accetta - 3sv, Gacic - 2sv)

At Hobart | Wednesday, September 9th

• L, 2-1 (Bucher - 1g, Accetta - 4sv, Gacic - 5sv)

Vs SUNY Morrisville | Saturday, September 12th

• W, 3-2 (Smith - 1g, Pawlowski - 1g, Schweitzer - 1g, Nkurunziza - 1a, Condit - 1a, LeVasseur - 2sv)

 
Last Week's Action:

• Oswego State: Utica opened its home schedule with a 1-1 draw against the Lakers. Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) put the Pioneers ahead on a penalty kick at 76:06, but Oswego answered with a penalty of its own just 1:29 later. Utica generated 12 of its 15 shots after halftime.
• Hobart: The Pioneers entered halftime scoreless despite sustained pressure from the Statesmen. Hobart broke through early in the second half and added an insurance goal before Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) brought Utica within one with 1:15 remaining. The late push fell short as the hosts held on for a 2-1 win.
• SUNY Morrisville: Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) answered Morrisville's opening goal just 1:41 later to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1. Maximilian Pawlowski's (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) free kick put Utica ahead in the second half, and Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) added another goal 5:36 later. The Pioneers held off a late Mustang strike to secure the 3-2 victory.

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs SUNY Delhi - Tuesday, September 15th, 4:00 PM | Casamento Field
At SUNY Geneseo - Saturday, September 19th, 4:00 PM | College Stadium
 
Trax Fax:

• Utica's three goals against Morrisville matched its combined output from the opening four matches. Six different Pioneers have accounted for the team's six goals this season.
• Freshman Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) and junior Griffin Condit (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) recorded Utica's first two assists of the season on Smith's equalizer against Morrisville. Condit's long ball found Nkurunziza, whose touch set up Smith's finish at the back post.
• The Pioneers are unbeaten through their first two home matches at 1-0-1. Utica has generated 33 shots at Casamento Field, including a season-high 18 against Morrisville, while earning all five corner kicks in Saturday's victory.
• Utica has found another gear after halftime, taking 17 of its 21 combined shots against Oswego and Hobart during the second halves. The Pioneers followed those performances with two second-half goals against Morrisville.
• Four Pioneer goalkeepers saw action last week. Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) and Asim Gacic (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) split the Oswego and Hobart matches, before Cade Tavares (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) and Cian LeVasseur (Salem, MA/St. Mary's) divided the Morrisville contest. LeVasseur made two saves and earned the win.

Upcoming Opponents:
SUNY Delhi

• Record: 3-1
• Recent Matches: The Broncos enter the week on a two-match winning streak. Delhi opened its season with a 2-1 victory over Empire 8 member Hartwick.
• Stat Leaders: Aidan Gaughan leads Delhi with five points on two goals and one assist, sharing the team's goal-scoring lead with Sean Szczcotka. Matthew Bender leads the Broncos with two assists, while Gaughan also tops the team with 12 shots and six attempts on target. Salvatore Meloni has played the majority of time in net, posting a 1.14 GAA and a .667 SV% though 315 minutes.
• What to Watch For: Delhi has won both of its home matches and its lone neutral-site contest, but dropped its only true road game. Tuesday's visit to Utica gives the Broncos another opportunity to find success away from home.

SUNY Geneseo

• Record: 2-2-1
• Recent Matches: The Knights defeated Allegheny, 2-1, on September 7 before playing Rochester to a 1-1 draw two days later. Geneseo visits Alfred State on Wednesday before hosting Utica on Saturday.
• Stat Leaders: Owen Burke leads Geneseo with three points on one goal and one assist, while Jace DiPalo leads the team with 13 shots and five attempts on target. Goalkeeper Max Crothall has played all 450 minutes, recording 17 saves and a 1.20 goals-against average.
• What to Watch For: Saturday's conference opener is a rematch of last season's Empire 8 semifinal. The teams finished that contest tied 1-1 before Geneseo advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks, eventually claiming the conference championship.

Up Next: Men's soccer returns to Casamento Field on Wednesday, September 23rd, hosting Hartwick College at 7:00pm in its Empire 8 home opener. The Pioneers remain home Saturday, September 26th, to face Alfred University at 1:00pm.
 


Women's Tennis - Women's Tennis will look to bounce back this weekend with a pair of Empire 8 matchups. On Friday, the Pioneers travel to Oneonta to take on Hartwick before returning home Saturday for a conference showdown with SUNY Geneseo. With two opportunities to earn their first win of the season, the Pioneers will look to build off the competitive moments from their opening matches and put together a strong weekend on the court.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Cortland State | September 9th

• L, 7-0

Vs Oswego State | September 11th

• L, 7-0

At St. John Fisher | September 12th

• L, 7-0

Last Week's Action:

• Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Averi Kraeger (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) provided excitement in their No. 1 doubles matchup against St. John Fisher this past Saturday, taking the Cardinals' top two talents down to the wire in an eventual 7-5 defeat. Eh Nay Than (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) and Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) also combined for an exciting outing in No. 3 Doubles, falling in a close 6-4 decision.
• Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) also had a solid showing against St. John Fisher, falling in her No. 4 singles matchup by narrow margins of 6-4 and 6-3.
• Freshman Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) made an impressive collegiate debut at No. 6 singles against Cortland on Wednesday. Brennan battled through a three-set contest, winning the second set 6-4 before falling just short in a deciding 11-9 tiebreaker. Her performance provided one of the week's strongest individual highlights for the Pioneers.

This Week's Schedule:
At Hartwick College - Friday, September 18th, 4:00 PM | Wilbur Park Courts, Oneonta, NY
Vs SUNY Geneseo - Saturday, September 19th, 1:00 PM | Utica Tennis Courts
 
Trax Fax:

• Utica will have several opportunities to build momentum in the coming weeks, diving into conference play with six straight matches taking place in the Empire 8. The Pioneers will look to capitalize on those conference matchups as the season progresses.

Upcoming Opponents:
Hartwick College

• Record: 1-3
• Recent Matches: Hartwick opened the season with losses to St. John Fisher (2-5), Baruch (2-5), and Oneonta (1-6) before bouncing back with a 7-0 victory against Russell Sage on September 11th.
• What to Watch For: Hartwick will enter Friday's matchup looking to build on its first victory of the season. The Hawks' 7-0 win over Sage shows their ability to control a match across both singles and doubles play.

SUNY Geneseo

• Record: 3-0
• Recent Matches: The Knights opened their 2026 campaign with three consecutive 7-0 victories against Oswego, Cortland, and St. John Fisher. Geneseo will travel to Utica on Saturday looking to continue its unbeaten start.
• Stat Leaders: The Knights have received strong performances throughout their lineup. Natalie Pipes, JoAnn Catalano, Lauren Levatino, Rachel Molloy, Samantha Rava, and Talia Wutz have each gone 3-0 in singles play to begin the season.
• What to Watch For: Geneseo has been dominant in both singles and doubles competition, winning all 18 singles matches and all nine doubles matches to begin the season. The Pioneers will face a difficult test against a team that has yet to drop a match this season, but Saturday's home matchup will provide Utica with an opportunity to compete against one of the region's strongest early-season teams.

Up Next: Women's Tennis will return to action the following weekend, traveling to Houghton University on Saturday, September 26th for a 12:00 PM matchup at the HC Tennis Courts.



Volleyball - Volleyball is looking to rebound after a challenging start to the 2026 campaign, falling in all four of its matches last week.
 
Last Week's Results
At Penn St.-Behrend | Friday, September 11th RECAP

• L, 3-0 (Bailey - 8k, Hanba - 6k, Ancewicz - 12a, Wright - 18d)

Vs Westminster (PA) | Friday, September 11th RECAP

• L, 3-1 (Bailey - 12k, Rice - 9k, Wright - 30d)

Vs Thiel | Saturday, September 12th RECAP

• L, 3-2 (Bailey - 13k, 5a, Rice - 6k, Ancewicz - 21a, Wright - 28d)

Vs Fredonia | Saturday, September 12th RECAP

• L, 3-1 (Hanba - 9k, Stanton - 9k, Wright - 19d)

Last Week's Action:
Penn State Behrend: Utica battled Penn State Behrend in the opening match of the weekend but fell in straight sets. The Pioneers stayed within reach early in each frame, but Behrend pulled away late to take the match, 3-0.
Westminster: The Pioneers dropped the first two sets before rallying to take the third, 25-18. Utica battled back from an early deficit to tie the fourth set at 10-10, but Westminster regained control late to secure the 3-1 win.
Thiel: Utica jumped out to an early lead and took the opening set before Thiel answered with back-to-back set wins. The Pioneers fought back to force a deciding fifth set, where the teams traded points throughout before Thiel edged Utica, 19-17, in a tightly contested finish.
Fredonia: Utica opened the match with a strong 25-16 win in the first set, but Fredonia responded by taking the next three frames. The Pioneers battled throughout the final two sets, including a seven-point comeback to tie the fourth at 13-13, but the Blue Devils closed out the match, 3-1.
This Week's Schedule:
Vs SUNY Cobleskill - Wednesday, September 16th, 7:00 PM | Utica, NY
Vs Bard College - Friday, September 18th, 5:00 PM | Max Ziel Gymnasium
Vs Clarkson University - Saturday, September 19th, 4:00 PM | Max Ziel Gymnasium
At Oswego State - Saturday, September 19th, 6:00 PM | Max Ziel Gymnasium
 
Trax Fax:

• RECORD WATCH: Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) is officially on record watch. The senior libero is just 85 digs away from becoming the program's all-time leading defender, with the program digs record within reach this week. Last week, Wright managed 85 digs through four matches, and with continued momentum, is on pace to break the record by the end of this week's slate.
• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has been a consistent offensive leader for the Pioneers. She leads Utica with 71 kills through 27 sets and is coming off a 13-kill, five-ace performance against Thiel. She also added 12 kills against Westminster, giving her back-to-back double-digit kill performances to close out the weekend.
• The Pioneers' offense has been spread across several contributors. Utica has five players with at least 30 kills through the first nine matches, led by Bailey with 71 and Hanba with 56. Williams, Rice and Stanton have also reached the 30-kill mark.
• Utica's serving game has been a strength early this season. The Pioneers have recorded 77 service aces through 33 sets, averaging 2.33 aces per set. Ancewicz leads the team with 20 aces, while Bailey has 12 and Rice has 11. 
• The Pioneers have shown they can battle in tight matches. Utica has played three five-set matches this season, including a 27-25 fourth-set win over Thiel before falling 19-17 in the deciding fifth set. The Pioneers have also played several sets decided by just a few points throughout the season.

Upcoming Opponents:
SUNY Cobleskill

• Record: 1-8
• Recent Matches: Cobleskill picked up its lone win of the season against SUNY Poly (3-1) on Sept. 8, but dropped three-set matches to Union, Hartwick and Russell Sage last weekend.
• Stat Leaders: Emma Hinze leads the team with 49 kills and 63.0 points, while Kathleen Smart has 52 digs and 8 service aces. Jojo Haycock leads the team with 90 digs and 13 aces.
• What to Watch For: Cobleskill has struggled offensively, hitting just .043 as a team, but has shown its best offensive performance in its 3-1 win over SUNY Poly, recording 46 kills.

Bard

• Record: 1-5
• Recent Matches: Bard earned its first win of the season Saturday, sweeping MCLA, 3-0, after falling to Sarah Lawrence in three sets earlier that day.
• Stat Leaders: Nala Roman leads Bard with 38 points and has recorded 18 kills. Isis Pribble has 10 kills and 53 digs, while Penelope Joosten Lingo leads the team with 52 assists.
• What to Watch For: Bard has been competitive in stretches despite its record, taking sets from Arcadia and earning a 3-0 win over MCLA to close last weekend.

Clarkson

• Record: 6-2
• Recent Matches: Clarkson enters the week on a three-match winning streak, sweeping Lewis & Clark and Penn College before defeating Rochester, 3-1, on Saturday.
• Stat Leaders: Chase Chudoba leads Clarkson with 56 kills, 86.5 points and 26 blocks. Olivia Baxter has been a major defensive presence with 114 digs, while Ainslie Reimer has recorded 44 kills and 74 digs.
• What to Watch For: Clarkson has been especially strong at the service line, recording 78 aces through 29 sets, and has also posted 39 total blocks. The Golden Knights swept SUNY Cobleskill, 3-0, earlier this season.

Oswego State

• Record: 1-5
• Recent Matches: Oswego picked up its first win of the season Saturday, defeating Skidmore, 3-2, after dropping three-set matches to Williams and Middlebury earlier in the weekend.
• Stat Leaders: Priscilla McReynolds leads the Lakers with 64 kills, 81.5 points and 37 digs through 22 sets. Mya Bush has recorded 122 assists and 48 digs, while Piper Adams has added 13 kills and 19 digs.
• What to Watch For: Oswego has shown an ability to battle in long matches, opening the season with a five-set loss to Geneseo before earning its first win in five sets against Skidmore.

Up Next: The team will travel to take on the Delhi Tri Match, hosted by SUNY Delhi. Game one of the tri, against Marywood University, is set for 1pm on Saturday, September 26, followed by game two against the hosts set for 3pm.
 

COMING UP SOON:
 
All-in to Win: Utica University athletics is once again asking for your support in order to help your Pioneers perform at the highest level! Our All-In to Win campaign directly supports all teams here at Utica University by supplying them with the best equipment, medicine, and experience that they can possibly attain. With your help, we can bring Utica University to the top of the Division III landscape. This year's All-In to Win campaign will take place from September 16-19. That's THIS WEEK, from September 16-19. Every cent goes towards helping Utica University provide the best opportunities for each and every Pioneer athlete. Check out our website or social media during the campaign days for more information on how you can donate!
 
Homecoming/Hall of Fame: Stop by The U on Friday, October 2nd, and Saturday, October 3rd as the Pioneer Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is officially inducted! The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, starting at 5:30, and will be open to the public. For more information on how to register, head to the following link: https://uticapioneers.com/news/2026/8/20/football-registration-is-open-for-the-2026-pioneer-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony.aspx
On Saturday, the class consisting of men's lacrosse great Matt Donaldson, softball great Alysa (Russell) Wotten, and the 1970 football team will be honored again at halftime of the Homecoming football game against Cortland!
 
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