UTICA, NY - This past week, a women's volleyball player set a new program record, both soccer teams had outstanding defensive performances, and football continued its unbeaten run heading into this weekend's matchup with Cortland. Also, it's officially HOMECOMING WEEK here at Utica! Check out the information at the end of the article to see what events and ceremonies will be going on during the week!
 
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
 
Pioneer Athletes of the Week:
Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) - Volleyball
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) - Men'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:
Monday, September 28th
12:00 PM - Men's Golf at SUNY Poly | Teugega Country Club (SUNY Poly Invitational)
12:00 PM - Women's Golf at SUNY Poly | Teugega Country Club (SUNY Poly Invitational)
 
Tuesday, September 29th
4:00 PM - Women's Tennis vs Russell Sage | Utica Tennis Courts
 
Wednesday, September 30th
4:00 PM - Women's Soccer vs Keuka | Casamento Field
4:30 PM - Field Hockey at Wilkes | Schmidt Stadium
7:00 PM - Men's Soccer at Keuka | Jephson Community Athletic Complex
 
Thursday, October 1st
11:00 AM - President Stephanie Nesbitt Installation Ceremony - Nexus Center
 
Friday, October 2nd
4:00 PM - Women's Tennis at Brockport | Brockport Tennis Courts
5:30 PM - Pioneer Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Induction Ceremony
7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball at Elmira | Speidel Gymnasium (Pat Thompson '75 Court)
 
Saturday, October 3rd - HOMECOMING SATURDAY
11:00 AM - Men's Cross Country at Fredonia | Kara Hall Memorial Invitational
12:00 PM - Women's Cross Country at Fredonia | Kara Hall Memorial Invitational
1:00 PM - Women's Tennis vs Nazareth | Annette Shapiro Tennis Courts
1:00 PM - Women's Volleyball at Keuka | JMW Recreation and Athletics Center
1:00 PM - #22 Football vs #17 Cortland | ABM Field at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium
1:00 PM - Field Hockey at Houghton | Burke Field
3:30 PM - Women's Soccer at Houghton | Burke Field
7:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Houghton | Casamento Field
 
Sunday, October 4th
10:00 AM - Women's Golf at Nazareth | Locust Hill Country Club (Nazareth Fall 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 to Fredonia for Saturday's Kara Hall Memorial Invitational after competing at the RPI Fairgrounds Showdown.
 
Last Week's Action:
Men: Utica finished ninth out of 15 teams with 265 points in the 8K. Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) led the Pioneers in 40th at 25:15.6, followed by Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) in 86th at 26:17.2. Brandon Knisely (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham), Liam Maxson (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy), and Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central) completed the scoring five, finishing within 14.6 seconds of one another.
Women: The Pioneers placed 10th out of 16 teams with 282 points in the 6K. Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led Utica in 23rd at 22:12.8, while Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) finished 40th in 22:37.6. Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) crossed next in 24:23.7, followed by Nicole Arnhold (Hampton, NY/Granville) in 24:49.0 and Tara Fobare (Sauquoit, NY/New Hartford) in 25:43.5 to complete the scoring five.
 
This Week's Schedule:
At Kara Hall Memorial Invitational - Saturday, October 3rd | Hosted by Fredonia
Men: 11:00 AM
Women: 12:00 PM
 
Trax Fax:

• Bauer has led the Pioneer men in consecutive meets, following his runner-up finish at Hamilton with Utica's top time at RPI. Jeralds moved into the team's second finishing position after placing third among the Pioneers in each of the opening two races.
• Maxson entered Utica's scoring five for the first time this season, finishing fourth among the Pioneers in 27:34.2. He crossed just 9.4 seconds behind Knisely and 5.2 seconds ahead of Martin.
• Townsend has led the Pioneer women in both of her appearances this season, following her course-record victory at SUNY Poly with Saturday's 22:12.8 performance. Manna finished just 24.8 seconds behind her at RPI.
• Manna, Simmons, Arnhold, and Fobare have scored for Utica in all three meets this season. Saturday's scoring five matched the group that delivered the team victory at SUNY Poly.

 
Up Next: The Pioneers return to Hamilton College on Saturday, October 10th, for their second trip to Clinton this season.
 
Field Hockey - Field hockey will head on the road this week for two key matchups, battling Wilkes on Wednesday to wrap up non-conference play, before heading to Houghton for a Saturday showdown. Wednesday's tilt gets underway at 4:30 PM, while Saturday's conference clash kicks off at 1:00 PM.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Elmira College | Saturday, September 26th

• L, 2-1 (Marcantonio - 1g, Durfey - 1a)

 
Last Week's Action:

• The Pioneers were on break all of last week, getting a full seven days of rest before battling Elmira on the weekend for their only action of the week.
• Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) scored her first career goal during the matchup, as the defender broke through in the 11th minute on a pass from Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls). The goal was scored by two listed defenders, showcasing the Pioneers' adaptability at different places on the field.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Wilkes University - Wednesday, September 30th, 4:30 PM | Wilkes-Barre, PA
At Houghton University - Saturday, October 3rd, 1:00 PM | Houghton, NY
 
*Please note that Wednesday's stream may be locked behind a paywall due to FloCollege's subscription-based structure.
 
Trax Fax:

• Seven of the eight goals scored by the orange and blue this season have come from non-seniors, as the trio of Durfey, Marcantonio, and Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) has combined for seven scores. Jocelyn Spiezio (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) is the lone senior to have scored a goal this season, grabbing a score against a tough RPI team. Every single one of the team's eight goals has been assisted, displaying the team's ability to connect in front of the net.
• Coincidentally, seven of the team's eight assists have come from non-seniors as well, with Keeley Savona (Kingston, NY/Kingston) being the only Pioneer veteran to have a playmaker. Of those seven assists, six were tallied by juniors, which is indicative of the great vision and talent that the junior class possesses.
• Defensive captain Ryleigh Johnson (Camden, NY/Camden), after picking up a pair of defensive saves against Morrisville, is tied for the conference lead in last-second stops with three. Those three defensive saves saw her break a tie with Jordan Noga on the career program recordbook, now having sole possession of second place in the career defensive save category. 
• This Wednesday's contest will be the first-ever meeting between the Pioneers and the Colonels. Meanwhile, Saturday's showdown will be the 15th meeting between the Pioneers and Highlanders, with the orange and blue holding a 9-5 series advantage.

Upcoming Opponents:
Wilkes University

• Record: 4-5 (1-0 Landmark Conference)
• Recent Matches: The Colonels enter Wednesday's matchup riding a two-game winning streak after opening Landmark Conference play with a 3-0 victory over Elizabethtown on Saturday. Wilkes previously defeated Eastern, 2-1 in overtime, on September 22 after dropping a 2-1 decision to McDaniel on September 19. The Colonels opened the season with three straight losses before responding with consecutive wins over Oswego (6-1) and King's (4-1). Wilkes then fell to No. 23 Ithaca, 4-0, before earning its most recent pair of victories.
• Stat Leaders: Maddie Karp and Sage Morgan have paced the Wilkes attack with four goals apiece. Karp has added five assists for a team-high 13 points, while Morgan has contributed one assist for 9 points. Morgan Hermanofski has three goals and two assists, while Lydia Keppel has two goals and one assist. Taylor Bower has added two goals and two assists. In goal, Chloe Gilroy has handled the majority of the Colonels' minutes and has recorded 57 saves at a .760 rate this season.
• What to Watch For: Wilkes has demonstrated an ability to generate significant offensive pressure, particularly when it controls possession in the attacking end. The Colonels dominated King's with a 26-1 advantage in shots and 15-1 edge in penalty corners during their 4-1 victory. Against Eastern, Wilkes held a 23-18 shot advantage and earned eight penalty corners before Sage Morgan scored the overtime winner. Most recently, Wilkes outshot Elizabethtown 17-13 and put 12 shots on goal in its 3-0 conference-opening victory. The Pioneers will need to be prepared for a Wilkes attack that can create repeated scoring opportunities and capitalize on penalty corners.

Houghton University

• Record: 5-1 (1-0 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: The Highlanders have won five straight after opening the season with a 6-1 loss to Ithaca. Houghton responded with a dominant 9-0 victory at Lancaster Bible before defeating Neumann, 4-2, and Lycoming, 3-0. The Highlanders opened Empire 8 play with a 5-2 victory at Russell Sage on September 19 before earning another shutout, defeating Oswego 2-0 on Saturday.
• Stat Leaders: Courtney Walbridge has emerged as Houghton's leading offensive weapon, scoring eight goals through the team's first six games. Walbridge scored twice against Neumann, twice against Lycoming and added goals against Lancaster Bible, Russell Sage and Oswego. Walbridge, though, has yet to record an assist, meaning that she is often the final point of attack for the Houghton offense. Adria Hartzler has added five goals, while Lauren Thurber has scored three times. Kylee Barshinger has contributed two goals and several assists, while Aubrey Thurber and Davannah Dunn have also found the back of the cage this season. Amber Cribbs has played every minute in goal, saving 39 shots at a .796 rate.
• What to Watch For: Houghton has been one of the Empire 8's most productive offensive teams early in the season, scoring 24 goals across its six games. The Highlanders have shown they can overwhelm opponents with offensive pressure, scoring nine times against Lancaster Bible and producing 26 shots in their 4-2 win over Neumann. They have also demonstrated strong defensive play, recording shutouts against both Lycoming and Oswego. Houghton's recent 2-0 win at Oswego featured goals from Lauren Thurber and Courtney Walbridge, while goalkeeper Amber Cribbs helped preserve the shutout. The Pioneers will need to limit Walbridge's opportunities while also accounting for the Highlanders' balanced supporting attack.

Up Next: Field hockey will continue Empire 8 play following its two-game road trip, returning home for a pair of conference matchups. The Pioneers will host Russell Sage College on Wednesday, October 7 at 4:00 PM before welcoming Keuka College to ABM Field on Saturday, October 10 at 2:00 PM.

Football - The No. 22 Pioneers took home a big victory over Alfred State this past weekend, dominating the opposing Pioneers 58-13 to give the opponents their first loss and see themselves improve to 4-0 on the season. That win sets up a massive showdown with SUNY Cortland at home this Saturday, with the No. 17 Red Dragons coming to town for a Homecoming clash with Empire 8 Championship implications on the line. This weekend's matchup is shaping up to be one of, if not the most, anticipated home games in program history, and has real potential to be listed as Division III football's game of the week.
 
Last Week's Results
At Alfred State | Saturday, September 26th

• W, 58-13 (Szalkowski 22 cmp, 307 yds, 3 TD, Yeomas 110 yds rushing, 1 TD, Frazier 91 yds rushing, 2 TD, Zawolo 7 rec, 106 yds, 1 TD, Fernand 2 pbus, 1 int, 6 tackles, 1 tfl)

 
Last Week's Action:

• An all-out offensive attack, coupled with an aggressive pass defense, led the Pioneers to topple the previously unbeaten Alfred State Pioneers in the opponent's Homecoming contest. The orange and blue came out firing, racking up 307 yards passing and three touchdowns. However, an equally effective running game would see the team rack up 282 yards on the ground, also scoring three rushing touchdowns in the contest.
• Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) would capture his second Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week award thanks to another perfect week. Duarte went 3-for-3 on field goals, nailing kicks of 20, 31, and 38, while going 7-for-7 on PATs.
• The matchup was the Pioneers' first game as a ranked team, and also represented the program's first win as a ranked team. The only other time the Pioneers were ranked in the D3football.com poll was during the final edition of the 2022 rankings, which left the team unable to defend their ranking on the field of play. 

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs #17 SUNY Cortland - Saturday, October 3rd, 1:00 PM | Gaetano Stadium - Utica, NY

• Homecoming/First Source Teacher Appreciation Game

 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers hopped up one space in the D3football.com Top 25 poll, leaping over Susquehanna to No. 22 thanks to the River Hawks' 21-0 loss against Christopher Newport this past weekend. Nearly half of the Top 25 had the weekend off, resulting in lots of poll inertia this week. In the AFCA Division III Football Top 25 poll, the Pioneers climbed up to No. 21
• This weekend's contest will be the Pioneers' third game against a nationally-recognized opponent over the team's first five contests in 2026. The squad opened up against a tough W&J team that was receiving votes, and also battled a Hobart team in week three that was receiving votes in the AFCA poll. This weekend, Cortland will enter the matchup with rankings of No. 17 (D3football.com) and No. 16 (AFCA).
• It will also be the team's fifth straight game against an opponent with zero losses, as W&J (0-0), RPI (1-0), Hobart (2-0), Alfred State (3-0), and No. 17 Cortland (4-0) each entered or will enter a battle with the Pioneers while sporting an unblemished record.  
• Pioneer placekicker Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) continued his perfect start to the season during the team's 58-13 win over Alfred State, snagging his second Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week nod in just four weeks of play. The New Jersey native went 3-for-3 on field goals, hitting from distances of 38, 31, and 20 in the game. He was also 100% on PATs, nailing all seven of his point after's. Duarte improved to 11-for-11 on field goals, which is the most made field goals in Division III without a miss this season. Duarte capped off his excellent outing by booting two punts for an average of 46.5 yards, also pinning the opposing Pioneers inside their own 20-yard line on both occasions as he helped to set up some big defensive stops.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
#17 SUNY Cortland

• Record: 4-0 (at Grove City - W 28-18, at Union - W 26-0, vs. Hartwick - W 55-3, vs. Morrisville - W 62-6)

Recent Matchups:

• Against Grove City, the Red Dragons opened the season with a 28-18 road victory over the Wolverines, avenging the team's week one loss from the 2025 season. Quarterback Mike Rescigno accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 180 yards and a score while rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Veteran running back Ethan Gallo added 106 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Cortland built a 28-3 lead through three quarters before Grove City scored 15 fourth-quarter points.
• Against Union, Cortland posted its first shutout of the season with a 26-0 victory in Schenectady. The Red Dragons limited the Garnet Chargers to just 129 yards of total offense and 31 rushing yards. Rescigno rushed for 102 yards and completed 13-of-24 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, while Gallo added two rushing touchdowns. Cortland also dominated the second half, allowing just one Union first down after halftime.
• Against Hartwick, Cortland opened Empire 8 play with a 55-3 victory. The Red Dragons piled up 547 yards of offense, including 300 rushing yards, while holding the Hawks to just 96 total yards and 10 rushing yards. Rescigno produced one of the best rushing performances by a quarterback in Cortland history, running for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries while throwing for 241 yards and two more scores.
• Against Morrisville, the Red Dragons continued their dominant run with a 62-6 victory, outgaining the Mustangs 586-134 and holding them to 34 rushing yards. Cortland controlled the clock for 40:28 and converted eight of 16 third downs while scoring on all eight of its red-zone opportunities. Jacque LaPrarie tied a school record with three touchdown receptions, while the Red Dragons finished with 314 rushing yards and five passing touchdowns.

Stat Leaders:

• Offense
  • QB Mike Rescigno, 58 completions, 785 passing yards, 12 total touchdowns, 60.42% completion percentage.
  • RB Ethan Gallo, 53 attempts, 281 rushing yards, six touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, three receptions, 55 receiving yards.
  • WR Jacque LaPrarie, nine receptions, 208 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 23.1 yards per reception.
  • WR Joe Iadevaio, 20 receptions, 201 receiving yards.
  • WR Jayson Zeva, 13 receptions, 187 receiving yards, three touchdowns.
• Defense
  • LB Aidan Lochner, 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups.
  • LB Joe Galea, 18 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception.
  • LB Memphis Ferguson, 16 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups.
  • DB Sonny Mayo, 15 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery.

What to Watch For: Cortland enters the matchup averaging 42.8 points and 471.3 yards of total offense per game, while allowing just 6.8 points and 179.5 yards per contest. The Red Dragons have been especially effective on the ground, averaging 262.3 rushing yards per game while allowing only 39.5 rushing yards per game to their opponents. This is an interesting matchup on both sides, as the Red Dragons excel at everything on the ground, while the No. 22 Pioneers are especially effective in the air on both sides of the ball.
Cortland completely changed its offensive scheme following the departure of head coach Curt Fitzpatrick ahead of last season. After winning the 2023 National Championship with a strong passing attack, the team is now primarily a rushing team, using designed quarterback runs as a major part of the offensive gameplan. Because of that, the quarterback Rescigno has accounted for 378 rushing yards and four touchdowns while adding 785 passing yards and eight passing touchdowns, giving Cortland a dual-threat presence in the pocket. Gallo has added six rushing touchdowns, while the receiving corps features three players with at least 187 yards. Defensively, Cortland has allowed just three offensive touchdowns through four games and has held three straight opponents to seven points or fewer. The Red Dragons have also converted 70 percent of their fourth-down attempts and have scored on 21 of 23 red-zone opportunities.
Series History: Saturday will mark the 14th meeting between Utica and Cortland, with the Red Dragons holding a 12-1 advantage in the all-time series. However, no matchup has been as anticipated as this one, as its the first time that both teams will enter the matchup as ranked programs, and the contest will also be Utica University Homecoming, setting the scene for a spectacular home atmosphere.

• Notes:
  • This will be the first time in program history that Utica and Cortland meet with both teams entering the matchup undefeated and nationally ranked. Cortland enters at 4-0 and is ranked No. 16 by the AFCA and No. 17 by D3football.com, while Utica is 4-0 and ranked No. 21 by the AFCA and No. 22 by D3football.com.
  • Cortland has won five consecutive Empire 8 championships and enters Saturday with a 35-game conference winning streak. The Red Dragons have not lost an Empire 8 contest since late in the 2019 season.
  • Utica's defense will have another dual-threat quarterback to contend with in Rescigno. Through four games, he ranks among the Division III leaders with 378 rushing yards while also throwing for 785 yards and eight touchdowns. His 94.5 rushing yards per game leads the Red Dragons, while Gallo has added 70.3 yards per game on the ground.
  • The Pioneer offense will also face a major test against a Cortland defense that has surrendered only 27 points all season. The Red Dragons have allowed just 158 rushing yards through four games and have recorded seven sacks while forcing six turnovers.
  • Homecoming weekend will bring a full-circle moment for the Pioneers, as the 1970 Utica football team will be honored at halftime alongside the 2026 Pioneer Hall of Fame Class. The game will also serve as the First Source Federal Credit Union Teacher Appreciation Game.

Up Next: Football will hit the road for its second Empire 8 matchup of the season, traveling to SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, October 10th. The Pioneers and Mustangs are scheduled to kick off at 1:00 PM at Drake Field in Morrisville. Following the Morrisville contest, Utica will have a bye week before returning home on Saturday, October 24th to host Alfred University at 12:00 PM for the GKG & Sullivan Contracting Breast Cancer Awareness Game.

Golf - Utica's men's and women's golf teams compete at the SUNY Poly Invitational at Teugega Country Club on Monday. Both squads are coming off runner-up finishes at their home Casler Masonry Invitational, while the men also completed the Oswego State Fall Invitational over the weekend.

Last Action (9/20–9/27):

• Men: Utica's A team finished second out of six teams at the Casler Masonry Invitational, shooting 627 (+59), while the B team placed fifth at 665 (+97). Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, Ontario/Blyth Academy) tied for second individually at +7, and Daniel Maloney (Syracuse, NY/Living Word Academy) led the B team in 10th at +15. At Oswego, the Pioneers placed eighth out of 12 teams with rounds of 319 and 315 for a 634 (+66). Parekh again led Utica, tying for 16th at +13, followed by Jacob Martyniuk (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) in a tie for 22nd at +14.
• Women: The Pioneers finished second at the Casler Masonry Invitational, improving from an opening-round 401 to a 395 for a two-day total of 796 (+212). Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) led Utica with matching rounds of 85 (+12), tying for second overall. Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) finished eighth at +57, followed by Sianna Kenyon (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) in 10th at +61 and Jordan Dorrity (Constableville, NY/South Lewis Central) in 11th at +70.

Note: Results from the September 28th SUNY Poly Invitational were not available at the time of release.

Trax Fax:

• Parekh has led Utica individually at each of its first three tournaments, finishing tied for 14th at St. Lawrence, tied for second at Casler Masonry, and tied for 16th at Oswego.
• Draper's matching 85s at Yahnundasis were her lowest rounds of the season. She recorded three birdies across the tournament and improved her two-round total by 26 strokes from the season opener at St. Lawrence.
• The men finished within three strokes of one another during Sunday's final round at Oswego, with all five golfers shooting between 78 and 81. Morse improved by 10 strokes and recorded 12 pars, while Maloney lowered his score by six strokes and led the team with three birdies.
• Wright cut nine strokes from her opening round at Casler Masonry, following a 106 with a 97. Her improvement helped the women lower their team score by six strokes on the final day.

Up Next: Both teams host SUNY Delhi at Yahnundasis Golf Club on Thursday, October 1st, beginning at 1:30 PM. The women then travel to Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford for the Nazareth Invitational on Sunday and Monday, October 4th and 5th, with play beginning at 10:00 AM both days.

Women's Soccer - Women's soccer hosts Keuka College in a conference matchup. Both sides will be looking for their first conference wins of 2026. A high-scoring Wolves attack, led by junior Lydia Lane, meets a stout Pioneer defense, led by senior Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington), in a high-stakes showdown.
 
The Pioneers hit the road again to face off against Houghton in a conference matchup. The Highlanders have enjoyed an unbeaten start to conference play, winning three of their first four games and sitting at the top of the Empire 8 standings. Led by junior forward Hope Russell, who has four goals, Houghton looks to continue their winning ways vs. the Pioneers.
 
Last Week's Results:
@ Hartwick | Wednesday, September 23, 7:00 PM

• D, 0-0

@ Alfred U | Saturday, September 26, 7:00 PM

• D, 0-0

Last Week's Action:

• Hartwick: Women's Soccer fought hard to find their first win in conference play, but were met by a strong Hartwick side. A tense battle saw both teams earn a point in a 0-0 result.

 

• Alfred University: The Pioneers registered seven shots on goal, all repelled by the Alfred goalkeeper. Another strong defensive effort gave the Pioneers a platform to search for the winner, but their efforts came agonisingly short for another 0-0  result.

 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs Keuka, Wednesday, September 30th, 4:00 PM | Casamento Field
At Houghton, Saturday, October 3rd, 3:30 PM | Burke Field
 
Trax Fax:

• Goalkeeper Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) is on track to record an all-time top-10 single-season goals-against average (.730)
• Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) can move to second all-time for career minutes played with 71 minutes played against Keuka. The senior has also moved into the top 10 for all-time career starts with 63. Kraft's incredible engine ranks among the all-time Pioneer greats.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
Keuka College

• Record: 3-8
• Recent Matches: Keuka starts conference play with two losses vs. Elmira and Brockport. Their last win came in a 3-2 result over Hilbert College.
• Stat Leaders: Junior Forward Lydia Lane leads the team with 13 points (6 g, 1a), followed by senior Delaney Goodenow with ten points (3g, 4a).
• What to Watch For: A struggling Keuka side looks to rally behind Lane in their effort to take down the Pioneers. Both sides will be looking to grab their first conference win, in what should be a high-stakes matchup. 

Houghton

• Record: 5-3-1
• Recent Matches: The Highlanders continued their unbeaten start to conference play with a 2-2 draw with Elmira, following a 1-0 loss to Buffalo State. Previously, Houghton opened conference play with three straight wins.
• Stat Leaders: Forward Russell Hope leads the way with nine points (4g, 1a), followed by a quartet of highlanders with four points.
• What to Watch For: Houghton will be looking to return to winning ways against the Pioneers after two disappointing results. For the Pioneers, a chance to test themselves against a side currently sitting top of the standings. 

 
Up Next: The Pioneers stay on the road vs. a championship-contending St.John Fisher side on Wednesday, October 7th, at 6:00 PM, followed by another top match vs. Brockport on Saturday, October 10th, at 1:00 PM.
 
Men's Soccer - Men's soccer heads into matchups with Keuka and Houghton after splitting two Empire 8 home contests last week. The Pioneers earned their first conference win against Hartwick before a late Alfred goal left Utica at 3-5-1 overall and 1-2 in league play.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Hartwick College | Wednesday, September 23rd

• W, 2-0 (Arias - 1g, 1a; Petzoldt - 1g; Cookinham, Nkurunziza, Cavallo - Each 1a; Accetta - 6 saves)

Vs Alfred University | Saturday, September 26th

• L, 0-1 (Accetta - 7 saves; Cavallo, Schlachter, Arias, Smith - Each 1 SOG)

 
Last Week's Action:

• Hartwick: Utica secured its first Empire 8 win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Hartwick. Jackson Petzoldt (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) opened the scoring at 31:22 with his first collegiate goal, finishing a passing sequence from Braeden Arias (New Milford, CT/New Milford) and Carter Cookinham (Poland, NY/Poland). Arias doubled the lead early in the second half, heading home a ball supplied by Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) and Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham). Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) made six saves for his second shutout of the season.
• Alfred: The Pioneers battled Alfred through a scoreless first half and remained level until the closing minutes, with Accetta recording seven saves. Utica nearly broke through following an 88th-minute corner, generating two shots on target and another blocked attempt. The Saxons turned that defensive stand into a counterattack, scoring the deciding goal moments later to hand Utica a 1-0 loss.

 
This Week's Schedule:
At Keuka College - Wednesday, September 30th, 7:00 PM | Jephson Community Athletic Complex
Vs. Houghton University - Saturday, October 3rd, 7:00 PM | Casamento Field

Trax Fax:

• Accetta leads the Empire 8 with an .886 save percentage and ranks second with a 0.62 goals-against average through 585 minutes. He has recorded 31 saves and two shutouts, allowing just two goals across his last 405 minutes.
• Utica recorded a season-high nine shots on goal against Hartwick while matching its season high with 18 total attempts. The Pioneers' four assists doubled their combined total from the opening seven matches.
• Eight different Pioneers have scored Utica's eight goals this season. Petzoldt and Arias joined that group against Hartwick, with Petzoldt's first collegiate goal providing the game-winner. The score by Arias also marked the transfer's first collegiate goal.
• Freshman Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) leads Utica with four points on one goal and two assists. He is tied for sixth in the Empire 8 in total assists.
• Utica has allowed just two first-half goals through nine matches. The Pioneers have also held opponents to one goal or fewer in each of their last four outings.

Upcoming Opponents:
Keuka College

• Record: 1-6-1 overall, 0-3 Empire 8.
• Recent Matches: Keuka dropped consecutive 2-1 decisions to Pitt-Bradford and SUNY Brockport last week. The Wolves' lone victory came against Hilbert, 3-1, on September 16th.
• Stat Leaders: Avery Pawlisch has recorded three goals and two assists for eight points, accounting for half of Keuka's six goals. Patrick Mucha has registered 14 shots, while goalkeeper Jakob Snyder leads the Empire 8 with 38 saves and owns a 1.88 GAA and .717 save percentage through 720 minutes.
• What to Watch For: Keuka pushed unbeaten conference co-leader Brockport to a one-goal finish Saturday after dropping its first two league matches by 3-0 scores. With Snyder leading the conference in saves, Utica will look to turn its chances into goals against a busy Wolves goalkeeper.

Houghton University

• Record: 3-2-4 overall, 1-1-2 Empire 8.
• Recent Matches: Houghton followed a 1-1 draw at Fredonia with a 4-2 conference victory over Elmira last week. The Highlanders are unbeaten in their last four matches, collecting three draws and a win.
• Stat Leaders: Nata Souza leads the Empire 8 with six assists and has added two goals for 10 points. James Fay has four goals and one assist for nine points, while John Fay has contributed two goals and two assists.
• What to Watch For: Houghton has scored 19 goals while conceding 18 through nine matches, including seven scored and nine allowed in conference play. Souza's distribution and James Fay's finishing present a test for a Utica defense that has allowed just two goals through three Empire 8 contests.

 
Up Next: Utica hosts St. John Fisher University on Wednesday, October 7th, before welcoming SUNY Brockport on Saturday, October 10th. Both Empire 8 matchups kick off at 7:00 PM at Casamento Field.
 
Women's Tennis - Women's Tennis will enter the final week of its 2026 fall season with three Empire 8 matchups on the schedule. The Pioneers will open the week at home Tuesday against Russell Sage before traveling to Brockport on Friday and returning home Saturday to close the regular season against Nazareth. After earning their first individual singles victories of the season at Houghton on Saturday, the Pioneers will look to carry that momentum into a busy final week and close the fall campaign on a strong note.

Last Week's Results
At Houghton University | September 26th

• L, 5-2 (Burton and Brennan achieve singles wins)

Last Week's Action:

• Freshman Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) provided one of the biggest highlights of the season to date, earning her first collegiate singles victory in dramatic fashion at No. 5 singles against Houghton. After dropping the opening set 6-4, Brennan rallied to take the second set 6-4 before winning the third-set super tiebreaker, 10-4. The victory capped another stretch of competitive play for the freshman, who has now battled through multiple close contests during her first collegiate season.
• Sophomore Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) also picked up a singles victory against the Highlanders, cruising to a 6-0, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles. Burton's win marked her first singles victory of the season and gave the Pioneers two points in the singles portion of the match.
• Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Hannah Loebbaka (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) came close in doubles play, falling 6-4 at No. 1.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs Russell Sage College - Tuesday, September 29th, 4:00 PM | Utica Tennis Courts
At SUNY Brockport - Friday, October 2nd, 4:00 PM | Brockport Tennis Courts
Vs Nazareth University - Saturday, October 3rd, 1:00 PM | Annette Shapiro Tennis Courts, Utica, NY

Trax Fax:

• Brennan has continued to produce some of the Pioneers' most competitive individual performances throughout her freshman campaign. She battled to an 11-9 third-set tiebreaker against Cortland in her collegiate debut, pushed Hartwick's McManus to 7-5, 6-4 at No. 6 singles, and then won a three-set thriller against Houghton.
• Burton's victory at Houghton was her first singles win of the season. She previously put together competitive stretches against St. John Fisher, taking four games in the first set and three in the second at No. 4 singles.
• The Pioneers will play three matches in five days to close the fall season. The stretch begins with Russell Sage on Tuesday, continues with Brockport on Friday and concludes with Nazareth on Saturday.

Upcoming Opponents:
Russell Sage College

• Record: 0-9 (0-5 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: Russell Sage enters Tuesday's matchup still searching for its first victory of the season. The Gators have dropped all eight of their matches, including Empire 8 contests against Geneseo, Hartwick, Nazareth, St. John Fisher and Alfred. Most recently, Russell Sage fell to Alfred, 7-0, on September 26.

SUNY Brockport

• Record: 4-4 (2-3 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: Brockport enters Friday's matchup after splitting a three-match week. The Golden Eagles fell to Hartwick, 5-2, and St. John Fisher, 5-2, before closing the week with a 4-3 victory over Cortland on September 26. Brockport has already posted wins over Fredonia and Alfred this season, while its other losses have come against Oswego, Nazareth, Hartwick and Fisher.
• Stat Leaders: Katie Tabor has been one of Brockport's most consistent singles players, entering the final week with a perfect 6-0 record, including a 6-0 mark at No. 6 singles. Gianna Masker is 5-1 in singles, including a 5-1 mark at No. 5, while Mackenzie King and Samantha Basovsky have each posted 5-1 records in doubles. Masker and Kathleen Rogers are also 4-2 together at No. 3 doubles.

Nazareth University

• Record: 4-2 (4-2 Empire 8)
• Recent Matches: Nazareth enters Saturday's regular-season finale after a narrow 4-3 loss to St. John Fisher on September 23. The Golden Flyers opened the season with four consecutive victories, including a 7-0 win over Houghton, before falling to Brockport, 4-3, and Fisher, 4-3. Nazareth will face Utica on Saturday after opening the week against Brockport on Tuesday.
• Stat Leaders: Victoria Cioni has continued to be a key piece of the Golden Flyers lineup, while Anna Spencer brings experience at the top of the doubles lineup. Against Fisher, Lily Brady and Spencer teamed up for a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles, while Paige Masrouri, Elizabeth Adamson and Aiyanah Reed each earned singles victories. Reed's win came in a three-set comeback at No. 6 singles, while Masrouri rallied after dropping the opening set to win at No. 4.

Up Next: Women's Tennis will conclude its 2026 season this week with three Empire 8 matchups. Following Tuesday's home contest against Russell Sage and Friday's trip to Brockport, the Pioneers will return to the Utica Tennis Courts on Saturday, October 3rd to host Nazareth University at 1:00 PM. The match against the Golden Flyers will serve as Utica's final scheduled contest of the 2026 season.

Volleyball - Volleyball enters Empire 8 play this week after splitting its most recent doubleheader at the Delhi Tri-Match, falling to Marywood before bouncing back with a sweep of SUNY Delhi.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Marywood | Saturday, September 26th
L, 3-0 (Bailey - 9k, Wright - 30d, Bailey - 3a)
 
At SUNY Delhi | Saturday, September 26th
W, 3-0 (Bailey - 17k, Wright - 18d, Ancewicz - 18a)
 
Last Week's Action:

Marywood: The Pioneers battled Marywood throughout the opening set but fell 25-13. Utica fought back in the second set, cutting a late deficit to one at 24-23 before Marywood closed it out, 25-23. The third set featured several lead changes as Utica held a 17-13 advantage and later tied the set at 22-22 and 23-23, but Marywood scored the final two points to complete the 3-0 sweep. The match also saw senior libero Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) break the program's career digs record. Wright recorded 30 digs, giving her 1,516 career digs and surpassing Melissa Austin's previous mark of 1,490, set in 2009.

SUNY Delhi: Utica responded with a dominant performance against the host Broncos, sweeping Delhi, 3-0. The Pioneers jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, taking the opening set 25-16. Utica pulled away even further in the second, scoring seven of the next eight points to build a 17-4 advantage before closing out the frame, 25-9. The Pioneers maintained control in the third set, using three straight Bailey kills to take a 7-1 lead before cruising to a 25-13 victory.

This Week's Schedule:
At Elmira College - Friday, October 2nd, 7:00 PM | Elmira, NY
At Keuka College - Saturday, October 3rd, 1:00 PM | Keuka Park, NY
 
Trax Fax:

• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) enters Empire 8 play as one of Utica's top offensive threats, ranking eighth in the conference with 140 kills and 3.11 kills per set. She has also recorded 162 total points on the season, good for seventh in the Empire 8 at 3.60 points per set. Bailey is coming off a 17-kill performance against SUNY Delhi in which she hit an impressive .739.
• Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) has been a consistent presence in the back row all season, leading the Empire 8 with 302 digs and averaging 6.04 digs per set. Her defensive efforts have helped the Pioneers lead the conference with 858 total digs and 16.82 digs per set. Wright also enters conference play having already broken Utica's career digs record, surpassing Melissa Austin's previous mark of 1,490 and currently sitting at 1,534 career digs.
• Utica has made an impact from the service line throughout the first portion of the season, recording 111 service aces through 16 matches. The Pioneers rank fifth in the Empire 8 in total aces, with Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) leading the team with 24 apiece. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has also contributed 20 aces, giving Utica three players with at least 20 service aces heading into conference play.
• The Pioneers have shown the ability to put together efficient offensive performances, including a .364 team hitting percentage in their most recent match against SUNY Delhi. Utica finished the 3-0 sweep with 36 kills and just eight errors on 77 total attacks. The Pioneers will look to carry that offensive efficiency into Empire 8 play when they face Elmira and Keuka on the road this weekend.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
Elmira College

• Record: 1-9
• Recent Matches: Elmira earned its first win of the season with a 3-0 sweep of Penn College on Sept. 23 after opening the season with nine consecutive losses.
• Stat Leaders: Averleigh McFarlan leads the Soaring Eagles with 79 kills and 2.47 kills per set. Zoie Karcz leads the team with 64 assists, while Vicki Titus has a team-high 79 digs.
• What to Watch For: Elmira has recorded 75 service aces through 33 sets, averaging 2.27 aces per set. The Soaring Eagles also played a five-set match against Keystone earlier this season.

Keuka College

• Record: 7-8
• Recent Matches: Keuka split its two matches last Saturday, defeating Penn College 3-1 before falling to Lancaster Bible in three sets.
• Stat Leaders: Nina Scott leads Keuka with 174 kills and 3.35 kills per set, while Alessandra Castañeda has 118 kills. Summer Elza leads the team with 229 assists, and Gabby Rodriguez has a team-high 264 digs.
• What to Watch For: Keuka has played seven four-or-five-set matches this season and enters the week with seven wins. The Wolves have also recorded 113 service aces through 53 sets.

 
Up Next: The team returns home for a three match homestand, beginning with SUNY Poly in the team's Mental Health Awareness Match, presented by the Center for Family Life and Recovery on Tuesday, October 6 beginning at 7pm, before hosting Houghton University on October 9th, and Alfred University on October 10th.
 
COMING UP SOON:
Homecoming/Hall of Fame: Stop by The U THIS WEEKEND 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!
 
 
Also, be sure to tune in on Thursday, October 1st at 11:00 AM for President Stephanie Nesbitt's Installation Ceremony! You'll be able to watch the ceremony on our athletics website by heading to the "Watch" link!
 
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