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!
 
This past week, field hockey had its first freshman hat trick since 2024, volleyball saw a veteran player reach the threshold of a major program record, and the football team earned a D3football.com ranking for the second time in program history. Check out the preview below to see how these storylines played out and prepare yourself for this week's action!
 
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 Soon
 
Pioneer Athletes of the Week:
Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) - Football
Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) - Volleyball
 
 

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, September 21st
            10:00 AM - Women's Golf vs Utica University | Yahnundasis Golf Club (Casler Masonry Invitational)
            10:00 AM - Men's Golf vs Utica University | Yahnundasis Golf Club (Casler Masonry Invitational)
Wednesday, September 23rd
            7:00 PM - Women's Soccer @ Hartwick | Elmore Field
            7:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Hartwick | Casamento Field
Saturday, September 26th
            TBA - Men's Golf @ Oswego State | Oswego Country Club (Oswego Fall Invitational)
            10:00 AM - Women's Cross Country @ RPI | Washington County Fairgrounds
            11:00 AM - Men's Cross Country @ RPI | Washington County Fairgrounds
            12:00 PM - Women's Tennis @ Houghton | HC Tennis Courts
            1:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Alfred | Casamento Field
            1:00 PM - Football @ Alfred State | Pioneer Field
            1:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Marywood | Delhi, NY - Clark Field House
            2:00 PM - Field Hockey vs Elmira | ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium
            3:00 PM - Women's Volleyball @ SUNY Delhi | Delhi, NY - Clark Field House
            7:00 PM - Women's Soccer @ Alfred | Merrill Field at Yunevich Stadium
Sunday, September 27th
            TBA - Men's Golf @ Oswego State | Oswego Country Club
 
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 action after a week-long break, traveling to Greenwich, NY for the RPI Fairgrounds Showdown.
 
Last Time Out:

• 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.

 
This 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 Bethlehem, PA for the annual Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh University. Start times for both teams are to be determined.
 
Field Hockey - Field hockey returns home this weekend to battle Elmira College, hoping to pick up a big home win and level their Empire 8 record at 1-1. This Saturday's showdown is a great opportunity for rookie sensation Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) to add to her goal-scoring totals one week after achieving her first career hat trick during last Wednesday's matchup at Morrisville. This weekend's contest will be the team's second at Gaetano Stadium, and it starts at 2:00 PM in Utica, New York.
 
Last Week's Results
At Morrisville | Wednesday, September 16th - RECAP

• L, 4-3 (OT) (Chase - 3g, Parker - 2a, Crayton - 1a)

At Geneseo | Saturday, September 19th - RECAP

• L, 5-0

 
Last Week's Action:

• The midweek matchup against Morrisville was an exciting affair, with the Pioneers and Mustangs trading second-half goals before heading to overtime, where the Mustangs would eventually notch an early-period game-winner.
• Wednesday's matchup was the second in two games to be decided in overtime, with the September 5th battle against St. Lawrence also going to OT. Prior to that St. Lawrence matchup, it had been 39 games and over three seasons since the team last went to an extra period. In 2023, the team defeated Nazareth 2-1 during Senior Day, taking home a victory in the most recent overtime matchup prior to September 5th.
• Freshman Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) netted a trio of goals against Morrisville, notching the first Pioneer hat trick by a rookie since teammate Mia Benincasa (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) achieved the feat in 2024 vs. this weekend's opponent - Elmira. It had been 22 games between Benincasa's hat trick and Chase's. The Pioneers' last hat trick by any player was by Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) in late 2025, seven games prior to Chase's, and was also against Elmira College, which bodes well for the team this weekend.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs Elmira College - Saturday, September 26th, 2:00 PM | Gaetano Stadium
 
Trax Fax:

• Following Chase's three-goal outing, the team has seen 100% of its goals scored by Section II representatives. Chase, who graduated from Johnstown this past spring, has five goals to lead the Pioneers and is tied for second in the entire Empire 8, only trailing Houghton's Courtney Wallbridge, who has netted seven scores. Chase's hat trick was just the second three-goal outing in the entire Empire 8 this season. This past Saturday, Elmira's Talia Nash scored three goals, becoming the third player in the conference to do so this season.
• 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
• The Pioneers head into this weekend's contest with a strong recent run against Elmira, outscoring the Soaring Eagles by a total tally of 35-4 over the past five matches, including four straight shutouts from 2021-2024. The Pioneers will look for a similar outing in their second home game of 2026 this weekend against Elmira.
• Additionally, the team will battle Elmira in the midst of a 12-game win streak, with their last loss against the purple-clad team coming in 2012. Since then, the Pioneers have allowed nine goals over the 12 games between the two teams.

Upcoming Opponents:
 
Elmira College

• Record: 2-4 (1-0 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Soaring Eagles enter Saturday's matchup following a midweek battle against Brockport. Entering that matchup, Elmira will be coming off a 4-3 road victory over Keuka, their first Empire 8 win of the season. Elmira opened the year with three straight losses before earning a 4-3 overtime victory over Cedar Crest on September 12. After falling 9-2 at Oneonta on September 16, the Soaring Eagles bounced back against Keuka behind a three-goal performance from Talia Nash, who would go on to be named Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Elmira will host Brockport on Wednesday before traveling to Utica on Saturday.
• Stat Leaders: Talia Nash has emerged as Elmira's top offensive threat, scoring three goals in the Soaring Eagles' win over Keuka to bring her season total to three goals. Riley Dutcher has also scored three times this season, including goals against Morrisville and Oneonta, while Nicole Luther has two goals on the year. Madison Fleming has contributed a goal and multiple assists, including an assist on Nash's game-winning goal against Keuka.
• What to Watch For: Elmira has already shown an ability to create offense in high-pressure situations. The Soaring Eagles rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Cedar Crest to force overtime before Nicole Luther scored twice, including the overtime winner, and they recently held off Keuka in a 4-3 battle after surrendering a two-goal lead in the third quarter. Elmira also generated 15 penalty corners against Oneonta and seven more against Keuka, giving the Pioneers another area to monitor as the Soaring Eagles look to build on their first Empire 8 victory.

           
Up Next: Field hockey will wrap up non-conference play next week when they head to Wilkes University on Wednesday for a matchup against the Colonels. On the weekend, the team will voyage to Houghton to begin a string of eight Empire 8 games to end the season. Wednesday's contest starts at 4:30 PM, while Saturday's showdown begins at 1:00 PM.
 
Football - Football looks to build upon the team's first appearance in the D3football.com Top-25 poll since 2022 this weekend at another Pioneer team - Alfred State. For the fourth straight week to open the season, the Pioneers will take on another team with zero losses, as Alfred State has surged to an emphatic 3-0 record with a trio of routs powered by superstar senior running back Noah Currier.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs (NR/RV) Hobart | Saturday, September 19th - RECAP, HIGHLIGHTS

• W, 36-29 (Zawolo 11 rec, 111 yds, 2 TD, Szalkowski 23 comp, 319 yds, 2 TDs, 79% comp, Lamphere 1 FR TD, 1 pbu, D3football.com Game Ball)

 
Last Week's Action:

• A very balanced effort helped propel the Pioneers to a 23-0 halftime lead, which the team would hold onto against a tough Hobart team, grabbing the program's second-ever win over the Statesmen and advancing to 3-0 for the first time since 2023.
• The team's depth was on full display, as a cast of backup players would step up in big moments. Backup safety Jack Lamphere (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) returned a punt 24 yards for a touchdown, receiving a D3football.com Game Ball nod. Third-string tight end Logan Hewitt (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) locked up the game-sealing touchdown on a fumble recovery in the endzone; backup cornerback Calvin Crews (Cuddebackville, NY/Port Jervis) had two clutch pass breakups; backup defensive end Darrien Insogna (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) locked up 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries; and backup wideout Tony Dorozynski (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) converted numerous third downs and hauled in the catch of the day late in the second half.
• The main Pioneer contributors were also involved, with Jah-Kobiah Cancer (Albany, NY/Kingston), Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute), and Mason Miranowicz (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) all having standout outings. Cancer locked up four tackles, including two tackles for loss and a pass breakup, in addition to forcing the game-changing fumble that was returned by Lamphere. Zawolo had his second straight game of 10+ catches and 100+ yards, grabbing 11 catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Szalkowski slung the rock with master precision, completing 33 passes at a 79% rate while tossing two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Mason Miranowicz (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) finished his outing with four tackles and two sacks, hitting home in a major way during the matchup.
• The win sent the Pioneers into both the D3football.com Top-25 and the AFCA Top-25. The orange and blue are ranked #23 in the former and #24 in the latter.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Alfred State - Saturday, September 26th, 1:00 PM | Pioneer Field - Alfred, NY
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers' entry into the D3football.com Top-25 poll is the team's second-ever top-25 ranking by the publication, with the only other ranking coming at the end of the legendary 2022 campaign, where the Pioneers hopped up to #20 thanks to an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. This is the team's first time earning a ranking during the regular season. In the AFCA poll, this is the Pioneers' fifth time being ranked, as the team spent three weeks in the polls during 2023 (#22-#23-#24) in addition to being ranked at the end of 2022 (#22).
• With no official NPI rankings available through week three, the Hansen Ratings are the nearest equivalent, as the model supplies ratings based on an array of different information and simulations. On these ratings, the Pioneers currently have the 12th best resume in all of Division III, having defeated a trio of conference championship-caliber competition in Washington & Jefferson, RPI, and Hobart. 
• The Pioneers will take on another undefeated team this weekend, as Alfred State will enter week four with a record of 3-0. W&J (0-0), RPI (1-0), and Hobart (2-0) all engaged in a battle with the orange and blue while not having a single blemish on their resume. It is highly likely that SUNY Cortland will enter week five with a 4-0 record, setting up the Pioneers to welcome the Red Dragons for the annual Homecoming matchup with a chance to notch another team's first loss for the fifth straight week to open the season.
• Pioneer wideout Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) became the second player this season to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards, now sitting with 1,014 yards over his four years. Taylor joined tight end Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), who achieved the feat earlier this season. In addition, Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), who have since graduated, also surpassed 1,000 career yards last season, making it four total players who have reached 1,000 career yards in the past two seasons. Gabriel Zawolo (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), who has put together back-to-back 100-yard games, could be the next receiver to reach 1,000 yards, as the Rochester native currently has 648, just 352 yards short.

Upcoming Opponents:
Alfred State

• Record: 3-0 (vs Thiel - W 74-13, vs Hilbert - W 57-12, at Buffalo St. - W 41-7)

Recent Matchups:

• Against Thiel, the Pioneers opened the season with a record-setting offensive performance, rushing for 395 yards and seven touchdowns in a 74-13 victory. Noah Currier led the way with 217 rushing yards and four touchdowns on just 14 carries, while Ryan Joseph added 92 yards and a touchdown on nine attempts. Alfred State jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and scored 43 points in the second quarter to pull away.
• Against Hilbert, Alfred State continued its dominant start with a 57-12 victory. Currier rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, including a 96-yard touchdown run, while also adding a receiving touchdown. Quarterback Chase Shepanski completed all six of his passes for 149 yards and four touchdowns, including a 62-yard scoring connection with Elijah Georges. The defense forced three Hilbert turnovers while holding the Hawks scoreless through three quarters.
• Against Buffalo State, the Pioneers earned their third straight victory with a 41-7 road win. Currier again powered the rushing attack with 216 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries, while Shepanski completed 15-of-23 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. Elijah Georges added four catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, including an 84-yard reception. Alfred State held Buffalo State scoreless until the Bengals scored with 3:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Stat Leaders:

• Offense - QB Chase Shepanski, 30 completions, 490 passing yards, seven touchdowns, 71.4% completion percentage, zero interceptions.
  • RB Noah Currier, 48 attempts, 611 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, 12.7 yards per carry, seven receptions, 58 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown.
  • WR Elijah Georges, nine receptions, 277 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 30.8 yards per reception.
• Defense - LB Marcus Roney, 22 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble.
  • DB Donnell Hall, 19 tackles, one interception.
  • LB/DB Trevor Maly, 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, one forced fumble.
  • DL Ryan Heinz, 14 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

What to Watch For: Alfred State has been one of the most explosive offenses in the Empire 8 through three games, averaging 57.3 points and 450.3 yards per game while scoring 24 touchdowns. The Pioneers have been particularly dangerous on the ground, averaging 273.3 rushing yards per game and 8.0 yards per carry. Currier has accounted for 611 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns by himself, including three games with at least 178 yards. The passing game provides another major threat, with Shepanski completing 68.8% of his passes without an interception and Georges averaging 30.8 yards per catch. Defensively, Alfred State has allowed just 10.7 points per game and has recorded 10 sacks while forcing four turnovers. The Pioneers have also converted 50 percent of their third-down opportunities and have scored on 12 of 13 red-zone trips.
 
Series History: This will be the fourth meeting between the pair of Pioneer programs, with Utica currently holding a 3-0 advantage in the series. Alfred State was Utica's inaugural opponent during the orange and blue's debut season, with the CNY team taking home a 29-7 win for the program's first-ever victory. In 2021, Utica traveled to Alfred State, taking home a 39-21 win. Last season, the Pioneers grabbed a 45-13 victory over Alfred State during the opposition's first year in the Empire 8.

• Notes:
  • This will be yet another matchup in which the Pioneer defensive front is tested, as it will be the team's fourth straight contest against a powerful backfield presence. This week, Noah Currier will line up opposite a veteran Pioneer front who held him to just 57 yards and a single touchdown last season. Holding Currier will be the Pioneers' path to victory, as the Alfred State offense is heavily reliant on his talent.
  • Conversely, the Pioneers will look to get their rushing game going and will hope to obtain an early lead and salt away the game through the backfield. Last season, the team used six different rushers to put together a 140-yard performance.

 
Up Next: Football will welcome SUNY Cortland to town for a massive Homecoming weekend clash. The Homecoming game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM kickoff on Saturday, October 3rd, and is shaping up to be one of the most-anticipated games in program history. Should both teams win this week, next weekend's contest will most likely be a ranked matchup for the first time in history.
 
Golf - Utica's men's and women's golf teams are wrapping up the Casler Masonry Invitational at Yahnundasis Golf Club on Monday. Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, Ontario/Blyth Academy) and Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) entered the final round in third and tied for third, respectively.
 
 
Last Action (9/20):

• Men: The A team shot 304 (+20) to sit second out of six teams. Parekh led with a 73 (+2) in third, followed by Louie Roman's (Oswego, NY/Oswego) 75 (+4), tied sixth, and Koltin Pickell's (Ellenville, NY/Ellenvlle) 77 (+6), tied ninth. The B team stood fifth at 331 (+47), led by Daniel Maloney's (Syracuse, NY/Living Word Academy) 76 (+5) in eighth.
• Women: Utica shot 401 (+109) to sit second of two teams. Draper led with an 85 (+12), tied third among 13 golfers. Sianna Kenyon (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) followed with a 103 (+30) in a tie for eighth.

 
Note: 9/21 (round two) results not out at the time of release
 
Trax Fax:

• Four Pioneers finished the opening round inside the top 10 of the 35-golfer men's field. Parekh, Roman, and Pickell represented Utica's A team, while Maloney led the B team with an eighth-place showing.
• Draper's opening-round 85 was her lowest score through three rounds this season, improving on her best round at St. Lawrence by 11 strokes. Her 12-over-par performance put her in a tie for third entering Monday's final round.
• Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, Ontario/Blyth Academy) has opened the season with rounds of 74, 75, and 73, finishing no worse than three over par in any outing. His two-over opening round at Yahnundasis put him in third entering the final day.

 
Up Next: The men travel to Oswego Country Club for the Oswego State Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th, with start times to be announced. Both teams then compete in the SUNY Poly Invitational at Teugega Country Club in Rome on Monday, September 28th, beginning at noon.
 
 
Women's Soccer - Women's soccer continues conference play with a week-long road slate of tough conference competition.
 
Last Week's Results:
Vs Morrisville | Tuesday, September 15th

• W, 4-0 (Calabria 2 g, Jalocha Hewson 1g each)

Vs Geneseo | Saturday, September 19th

• T, 1-1 (Jalocha 1g)

 
Last Week's Action:

• Morrisville: Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) grabbed an early goal, springing an explosive Pioneer attack. Utica scored two more goals through efforts from Jalocha and Hewson before Calabria secured her second of the game to close the match down 4-0.

 

• Geneseo: The Pioneers pushed back against a relentless Knights team, taking the lead through another Abigail Jalocha (Maspeth, NY/Monsignior McClancy Memorial) solo effort. The hosts held on to lead with a stellar defensive performance, but Geneseo eventually found their equalizer, securing a point on the road.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Hartwick, Wednesday, September 23rd, 7:00 PM | Elmore Field
At Alfred University, Saturday, September 26th, 7:00 PM | Yunevich Stadium
 
Trax Fax:

• Abigail Jalocha's (Maspeth, NY/Monsignior McClancy Memorial) two goals this week make her second in goals and points for the Pioneers, without starting a single game. Her two solo efforts this week could be goal of the season worthy. 
• The Pioneers continue their all-time unbeaten record vs. Morrisville with a dominant 4-0 win. Dating back to 2017, the Pioneers hold a 33-2 goal differential over the Mustangs.
• With a point vs. Geneseo, the Pioneers extend their unbeaten run to three games, losing one in their last five.

Upcoming Opponents:
Hartwick College

• Record: 1-3-2
• Recent Matches: Hartwick secured their first win of the season over Nazareth last time out, winning 1-0 over the Golden Flyers.
• Stat Leaders: Four players share the goal-scoring lead with one goal each; junior Lily Dempsey leads the team with one assist.
• What to Watch For: Hartwick started the season on the ropes, going winless in their first five matches. But with a win last time out, the Hawks could make a tough challenge for the Pioneers in a conference environment.

Alfred University

• Record: 1-4-2
• Recent Matches: The Saxons find themselves on a four-match losing streak, losing to Fisher last time out 4-0.
• Stat Leaders: Sophomore Ava Thayer leads the way with two goals, followed by a quartet of Saxons with one goal each.
• What to Watch For: Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) and the Pioneer attack look to add more goals against a struggling Alfred side.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers return home for a conference matchup vs. Keuka on Wednesday, September 30th. Next, Utica will travel to Houghton to take on the Highlands in a conference match Saturday, October 3rd.
 
Men's Soccer - Men's soccer returns to Casamento Field, looking to bounce back from consecutive 1-0 defeats. The Pioneers host Hartwick and Alfred this week as they pursue their first Empire 8 win of the season.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs SUNY Delhi | Tuesday, September 15th

• L, 0-1 (Mitchell, Condit, Schweitzer - Each 1 SOG)

At SUNY Geneseo | Saturday, September 19th

• L, 0-1 (Accetta - 5 saves, Schweitzer - 2 SOG)

 
Last Week's Action:

• SUNY Delhi: Utica closed its non-conference schedule with a narrow 1-0 loss to Delhi. The Pioneers held the Broncos without a shot on target until the visitors converted a long throw-in sequence with 9:42 remaining. Utica pushed for an equalizer with two corners and three shots down the stretch but could not break through, finishing with advantages of 3-1 in shots on goal and 8-4 in corners.
• SUNY Geneseo: The Pioneers opened Empire 8 play with a 1-0 setback at reigning conference champion Geneseo. The Knights scored with 1:16 remaining before halftime, and Utica could not find an equalizer despite putting three second-half shots on target and earning all four corners after the break. Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) led Utica with two shots on goal as the Pioneers finished with a 7-6 advantage in that category, while Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) recorded five saves.

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs Hartwick College - Wednesday, September 23rd, 7:00 PM | Casamento Field
Vs Alfred University - Saturday, September 26th, 1:00 PM | Casamento Field
 
Trax Fax:

• Accetta leads the Empire 8 in both goals-against average (0.67) and save percentage (.857) through 405:00 in net. He is the conference's only goalkeeper with a GAA below 1.00 and a save percentage above .800, coming off a five-save performance at Geneseo.
• Schweitzer put all three of his shot attempts on target last week, including a team-high two against Geneseo. The sophomore provided those chances off the bench in both matches.
• Utica earned a combined 13-7 advantage in corner kicks against Delhi and Geneseo, including a 9-1 edge after halftime. The Pioneers took all four second-half corners in Saturday's conference opener.
• Six of Utica's first seven matches have ended in either a draw or a one-goal margin. Three of the Pioneers' four losses have come by a single goal.
• The Pioneers begin a stretch of five home matches in their next six outings, starting with Hartwick and Alfred this week.

Upcoming Opponents:
Hartwick College

• Record: 2-5 overall, 1-1 Empire 8.
• Recent Matches: Hartwick dropped a pair of one-goal decisions last week, falling 1-0 to Oneonta and 2-1 at Nazareth. Those setbacks followed consecutive wins over Morrisville, 5-2, and Houghton, 4-0.
• Stat Leaders: Devin Chandler leads the Hawks with 11 points on three goals and five assists, while Wilson Mount leads the team with five goals. The pair share the team lead with 18 shots apiece, with Mount putting 10 on target.
• What to Watch For: Hartwick has earned 46 corner kicks while allowing just 20 through seven matches. With Utica also holding a strong corner advantage last week, winning those opportunities and defending set pieces could be key factors on Wednesday.

Alfred University

• Record: 3-1-1 overall, 1-0-1 Empire 8.
• Recent Matches: Alfred opened conference play with a 2-2 draw at Houghton before defeating St. John Fisher, 3-1, on Saturday. The Saxons host Nazareth on Wednesday before traveling to Utica.
• Stat Leaders: Jesus De La Torre leads Alfred with 7 points on 2 goals and 3 assists. Hamza Kromah and Derek Alexei Rodriguez share the scoring lead with three goals each. Goalkeeper Tyler Mulholland has played all 450 minutes, recording 15 saves, a 1.60 GAA and a .652 save percentage.
• What to Watch For: Alfred has scored in all five matches, producing multiple goals in four of them. The Saxons scored five times on just seven shots on target across their first two conference contests, making limiting their clean looks at goal a priority for Utica.

Up Next: Utica travels to Keuka College on Wednesday, September 30th, for a 7:00 PM matchup before returning to Casamento Field to host Houghton University on Saturday, October 3rd, at 7:00 PM.
 
Women's Tennis - Women's Tennis will look to bounce back as the Pioneers continue Empire 8 play with a trip to Houghton University on Saturday. Utica will take the court at 12:00 p.m. at the HC Tennis Courts, looking to build off several competitive individual performances during the opening weeks of the season.
Last Week's Results
At Hartwick College | September 18th

• L, 7-0

Vs SUNY Geneseo | September 19th

• L, 7-0

Last Week's Action:

• Freshman Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) continued to provide competitive moments for the Pioneers against Hartwick, battling to a 7-5, 6-4 defeat at No. 6 singles. Averi Kraeger (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) also put together a strong performance at No. 2 singles, taking three games in each set before falling 6-3, 6-3.
• Brennan continued to battle at No. 3 singles against Geneseo, taking a game in the second set before falling 6-0, 6-1. The freshman has now shown competitive stretches in both singles and doubles play during her first collegiate season.

This Week's Schedule:
At Houghton University - Saturday, September 26th, 12:00 PM | HC Tennis Courts, Houghton, NY
Trax Fax:

• Saturday's matchup will mark the Pioneers' fifth consecutive Empire 8 contest. Utica will have four more conference matches remaining after Houghton, with matchups against Russell Sage, Brockport and Nazareth still on the schedule.
• The Pioneers will be looking to establish momentum against Houghton after facing two of the conference's unbeaten teams in Hartwick and Geneseo last weekend. The Highlanders will battle Geneseo earlier in the week, with the potential to enter Saturday's matchup still searching for their first victory of the season after an 0-8 start.

Upcoming Opponents:
Houghton University

• Record: 0-8 (0-4 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: Houghton has dropped each of its first eight matches of the 2026-27 campaign. The Highlanders opened the season with a 7-0 loss at Grove City before falling to Nazareth, Cortland, Fredonia, Brockport, Hartwick and Lycoming. Most recently, Houghton fell to Alfred, 5-2, on September 18th. Despite the loss, the Highlanders captured the doubles point behind victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles before Alfred rallied to win five of six singles matches.
• Stat Leaders: Sophomore Sage Brinckerhoff has provided a consistent presence at the top of Houghton's lineup. Brinckerhoff earned victories at No. 1 singles against both Fredonia and Lycoming and also paired with Zoe Zachery for a No. 1 doubles victory against Alfred. Zachery has also produced strong results at the top of the singles lineup, earning a No. 3 singles victory against Fredonia and a No. 3 singles win against Lycoming.
• What to Watch For: Although Houghton enters Saturday without a team victory, the Highlanders have demonstrated the ability to compete in individual matchups. Brinckerhoff and Zachery opened the season with a 6-0 No. 1 doubles victory at Fredonia, while Houghton also won the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches against Alfred before the Saxons took control in singles. The Pioneers will need to establish themselves early in doubles play while carrying that momentum into the singles portion of the match.

Up Next: Women's Tennis will return to the Utica Tennis Courts on Tuesday, September 29th, welcoming Russell Sage College for a 4:00 PM Empire 8 matchup.


Volleyball - Volleyball enters the final week of September at 3-10 after splitting its four matches last week.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs SUNY Cobleskill | Wednesday, September 16th RECAP

• W, 3-0 (Bailey - 13k, Hanba - 9k, Ancewicz - 13a, Wright - 14d)

Vs Bard College | Friday, September 18th RECAP

• W, 3-0 (Bailey - 12k, Wright - 20d, Ancewicz - 14a)

Vs Clarkson University | Saturday, September 19th RECAP

• L, 3-0 (Rice - 7k, Bailey - 6k, Wright - 25d)

At Oswego State | Saturday, September 19th RECAP

• L, 3-0 (Rice - 14k, Bailey - 12k, Wright - 22d)

 
Last Week's Action:
SUNY Cobleskill: Utica opened the week with a 3-0 sweep of SUNY Cobleskill, taking the match by set scores of 25-18, 25-23 and 25-20. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers with 13 kills, while Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added nine. The Pioneers held Cobleskill to a .045 hitting percentage and finished with seven total blocks. Utica battled through a tight second set before maintaining control late, then used a five-point run in the third set to take control and close out the sweep.

Bard: The Pioneers carried their momentum into Oswego with another 3-0 sweep, defeating Bard 25-11, 25-11 and 25-22. Bailey paced the offense with 12 kills, while Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) anchored the defense with 20 digs. Utica jumped out to early leads in the first two sets before Bard pushed back in the third. The Pioneers responded late, with Bailey delivering the final kill to seal the sweep.

Clarkson: Utica opened Saturday against Clarkson and fell in straight sets, 25-17, 25-17 and 25-18. The Pioneers kept pace early in each frame, including a 7-1 run in the second set that gave Utica a 16-15 lead. Clarkson regained control late, however, and closed out the match in three sets. Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led Utica with seven kills, while Wright recorded a match-high 25 digs.

Oswego State: The Pioneers closed the weekend against host Oswego State, falling 25-19, 25-21 and 25-21. Utica battled throughout the match, cutting the deficit to two points in the opening set before Rice helped bring the Pioneers within 15-13. The second set remained close throughout, with Utica cutting an Oswego lead to 22-21 before the Lakers closed the frame. In the third, Utica battled back from a 16-11 deficit to tie the set at 17-17 before Oswego finished with the final three points. Rice led all Pioneers with 14 kills, while Bailey added 12 kills and 12 digs.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs Marywood University - Saturday, September 26th, 1:00 PM | Clark Field House, Delhi, NY
At SUNY Delhi - Saturday, September 26th, 3:00 PM | Clark Field House, Delhi, NY
 
Trax Fax:

• RECORD WATCH: Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) currently sits four digs away from taking ownership of the career digs record. Wright continues to make her mark nationally and within the Empire 8. The senior libero enters the week with 254 digs through 44 sets, averaging 5.77 digs per set, which ranks 14th nationally in total digs and 28th nationally in digs per set. Wright also leads the Empire 8 in both categories, putting her among the conference's top defensive players. She has been especially productive over the last week, recording 20 digs against Bard, 25 against Clarkson and 22 against Oswego State, while anchoring a Pioneers defense that has totaled 742 digs this season.
• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) continues to lead the Pioneers offensively, entering the week with 114 kills through 39 sets for an average of 2.92 kills per set. She has also contributed 94 digs and 16 service aces, giving her 131.5 points on the season. Bailey was named to the Oswego Invitational All-Tournament Team after recording 30 kills, 28 digs and four aces across three matches.
• The Pioneers have continued to rely on their defense to keep them in matches, entering the week with 742 team digs through 45 sets. Utica is averaging 16.49 digs per set, with Wright leading the way at 254 digs, followed by Bailey with 94 and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) with 79.
• Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) has been a consistent presence in the Pioneers' offense, totaling 170 assists through 44 sets for an average of 3.86 assists per set. She has also made an impact from the service line with a team-high 22 aces, while adding 79 digs defensively.
• Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has emerged as another key piece of the Pioneers' attack, ranking third on the team with 61 kills through 32 sets. She is averaging 1.91 kills per set while hitting .126 on the season, and she put together one of her strongest offensive performances of the week with 14 kills against Oswego State at the Oswego Invitational.

Upcoming Opponents:
Marywood

• Record: 11-1 overall, 0-1 conference
• Recent Matches: Marywood enters the weekend riding an 11-match winning streak after opening the season with a 3-0 loss to Elmira. The Pacers most recently picked up a 3-1 win over Widener before defeating Kean, 3-2, on September 19.
• Stat Leaders: Taylor Hallam leads Marywood with 118 kills and is hitting .455 through 43 sets. Carolina Samaniego has 70 kills, while Gracee Work has 65 and Billie Leet has 64. Ayla Bransford has directed the offense with 304 assists, averaging 6.91 assists per set.
• What to Watch For: Marywood has been especially effective offensively, hitting .213 as a team while holding opponents to a .087 hitting percentage. The Pacers have also shown the ability to win long matches, including a five-set victory over Kean in their most recent match.

 
SUNY Delhi

• Record: 1-11 overall, 0-0 conference
• Recent Matches: Delhi's lone win came in a five-set victory at Keystone on September 1. The Broncos have dropped their last 11 matches and are coming off 3-0 losses to Alfred State and Nazareth on September 19.
• Stat Leaders: Nina Scott owns Delhi's top individual attacking performance of the season with 17 kills against Keuka while hitting .311. Isabelle Eskierka has recorded 14 kills while hitting .417 against SUNY Morrisville, while Kaelynn Greeley has posted 11 kills in a five-set match against MCLA.
• What to Watch For: Delhi is averaging 6.17 kills and 5.67 assists per set while hitting .020 as a team. The Broncos are also averaging 2.05 service aces per set, but have committed 3.57 reception errors per set. Defensively, Delhi is averaging 11.48 digs per set.

 
Up Next: The team will open the 2026 Empire 8 Conference slate with a weekend full of road action with matchups against Elmira College and Keuka College. The team will square off against Elmira on Friday, October 2nd, and against Keuka on Saturday, October 3rd.
 
COMING UP SOON:
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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