KEUKA PARK, NY - Utica University's men's soccer team hit the road for its fourth Empire 8 matchup, challenging the Keuka College Wolves. The Pioneers applied pressure throughout, breaking through for a 1-0 victory over their hosts. The win brings Utica to 4-5-1 overall this season, and 2-2 within the E8. The Pioneers will look to carry the momentum into a home matchup with Houghton University this Saturday, the team's first senior day.
The orange and blue outshot the Wolves 16-5 on the night, putting nine on target to Keuka's two. Senior
Felix-Assa Loselose (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) was responsible for the game-winning goal, additionally taking four shots on target, the only Pioneer with multiple. Senior
Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) turned away both shots on target he faced, earning his third clean sheet of 2026, and the fifth of his career.
It took under three minutes for the Pioneers to have a strong opportunity, with senior captain
Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) putting one off the woodwork.
Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) took a shot of his own at 5:51, requiring a lower-right corner save by Jakob Snyder, Keuka's goalkeeper. Utica took one off-target shot during the 12th minute, but other than the one attempt, no more shots came until 25:29, before a fully.
Chase Abbott (Penfield, NY/Penfield) and
Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) had back-to-back shot attempts saved before the Wolves attempted back-to-back shots of their own, the latter needing an Accetta save. Only one more on-target attempt came in the half, from senior captain
Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central), which was saved.
Keuka took the first shot on target of the half after 10 and a half minutes of play, their only attempt of the half. Just seconds before the 60:00 mark, Loselose took back-to-back shots on goal, pulling in his own rebound to boot home the first goal of the game.
Evan Smith (Baldwinsville, NY/Baker) took a shot on goal at the end of the 79th minute before Loselose closed the game with two more on-target attempts within the last 6:02 of play.
The Pioneers return to action this coming Saturday, October 3rd, in the first of three straight home E8 matchups. The stretch starts against the Houghton University Highlanders, with kickoff set for 7:00 pm at Casamento Field. The matchup will also honor several Pioneer seniors, with Senior Day festivities split between the two upcoming weekends.
