UTICA, NY - Utica University's men's soccer team continued its 2026 Empire 8 slate, playing host to the Alfred University Saxons in the Pioneers' third E8 matchup. Both squads had a number of chances spread throughout the game, but an 88th-minute strike by the Saxons pushed them into the winning column at the final whistle. Utica will look to rebound in their upcoming road matchup with Keuka College, set for 7:00 pm this coming Wednesday, September 30th.
Utica was outshot 18-8 in the outing, with Alfred putting eight shots on target to the Pioneers' four. Each shot on goal was taken by a separate Pioneer, with
Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) and
Ryan Schlachter (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) both doing so in their only shot attempt, while
Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) and
Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) each shot 1-of-2. Senior
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) played in goal for Utica, stopping all but one of the eight shots on goal he faced.
Alfred jumped out of the gate firing, attempting eight shots before Utica took its first after 26:51 of play. The first Pioneer shot on target came at the 36:29 mark by Smith, which was saved in the bottom right corner. The Saxons took two quick shots at 40:06 and 40:33 before Utica's final shot attempt of the half came with 2:43 remaining before the break. Alfred attempted one more shot with two seconds left, but it did not find its way to the net.
The Saxons began the second half with a shot on target at 2:06 into play, and an off-target shot at 50:32. After the early two attempts, play slowed down for a large portion of play, with teams trading midfield ball control. Alfred attempted another shot at the 63:33 mark, while Utica added a shot on target by Arias just under four minutes later. The visitors responded with shots during the 70th and 74th minutes, the latter requiring an upper-right corner save by Accetta.
Another Saxon attempt came at 80:41 before Utica had a quick flurry during the 88th minute. After earning a corner kick, Cavallo put a shot on target that was saved by the Saxon netminder, rebounding to Schlachter, who put a shot on target that was saved by an Alfred defender. Another rebound shot attempt was blocked, giving way to a Saxon counterattack. Junior Griff Schillmoeller passed to his teammate Xavier Bowman in the midfield, who quickly tapped the ball off the outside of his foot to his senior classmate Juanjo Menendez Gutierrez, who sent a right-footed shot into the lower-left corner. The Pioneers attempted one more shot, but the late goal held through for a 1-0 final.
Utica men's soccer returns to action next Wednesday, September 30th, in a road matchup with Keuka College. Opening kickoff is set for 7:00 pm at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex. The Pioneers next return to home turf on Saturday, October 3rd, when the Houghton University Highlanders come to Casamento Field in a 7:00 pm scheduled contest.
