UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's soccer team played in its second Empire 8 Conference matchup of the 2026 season, the first at Casamento Field. Traveling to challenge the Pioneers were the Hartwick College Hawks. In an even battle, two Utica strikes carried the orange and blue to a 2-0 win, improving them to 1-1 in conference and 3-4-1 overall. The Pioneers play another E8 home game this coming Saturday, September 26th, against the Alfred University Saxons.
The Pioneers found the back of the net twice, filling the stat sheet with two assists on both scores. Junior midfielder
Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) was the only player to contribute to both plays, assisting the opening goal and scoring himself on the second. The game-winner was scored courtesy of sophomore defender
Jackson Petzoldt (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse). In addition to Arias,
Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland) added an assist on goal one, followed by
Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) and
Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) on the second goal. Netminder
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) completed a strong six-save clean sheet, his second of the season. The senior led the E8 in both goals-against average and save percentage prior to the game, improving the metrics to a 0.55 GAA and .889 save percentage after the win.
Following the opening kickoff, the visitors quickly established themselves, attempting a shot and earning a corner kick within the first minute and a half. The early pressure held for some time, as each of the first five shot attempts were in favor of Hartwick. Between 13:38 and 17:17, the Hawks put three shots on target, two Accetta saves, and one team save by a Utica defender. The Pioneers turned the pressure back just a few minutes later, as between the 19:14 and 22:22 marks, the orange and blue put two shots on target, and another off the left post. The scoring breakthrough occurred after 31:22, off the left foot of Petzoldt, his first collegiate goal. Petzoldt had a back-post tap-in between the goalkeeper's legs, netting a crossed and headed passing play by Arias and Cookinham. Hartwick put two quick shots on target during the 37th minute, and Utica had an inside-the-penalty-area free kick that turned into a shot off the crossbar during the final minute before halftime, but the break came with the Pioneers up 1-0.
It took just under 10 minutes of play in the back half for Utica to extend its lead. Cavallo lined up a free kick awarded to the orange and blue, sending it in just inside the top of the penalty area. Hartwick's keeper jumped out to punch away the ball, but it was Utica's Nkurunziza who headed the ball, popping it back into the air and further toward the center of the penalty area. Arias completed his three-point night by heading the loose ball into the net, upping the score to 2-0. The Hawks tried to respond, outshooting Utica 5-2 over the next roughly 18 minutes of play, requiring just one save by Accetta and putting one off the crossbar. After the rush, Hartwick started to run out of steam, as after their shot at the 72:23 mark, the Pioneers took all but two of the next 10 shot attempts, four of them within the 85th and 86th minutes.
Utica men's soccer returns to action this coming Saturday, September 26th. Opening kickoff against the visiting Alfred University Saxons is set for 1:00pm at Casamento Field.
