UTICA, NY - Pioneer Athletics opened up the 2026-2027 season this past week, with all 10 fall programs engaging in their first action of the new academic year. On Tuesday, in Utica, women's soccer opened up with the first home game of the year for the second-straight season, battling well against a tough non-conference opponent, while a trio of other programs played their first action on the road. On Saturday, football opened up its season with the annual Mastrovito Family Auto Group Believe 271 Bowl, grabbing a big win over a tough Washington & Jefferson team to help the team keep up its recent streak of wins in the yearly game.
 
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!
 
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
 
WEEKLY AWARDS:
Pioneer Athlete of the Week
 


Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) - Football
Kicker, Senior
 
Pioneer placekicker Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) was the offensive MVP during Saturday's Believe Bowl victory over Washington & Jefferson, having a perfect afternoon as he went 6-for-6, kicking four field goals and two extra points in the 26-11 win. Duarte kicked off his senior season in style, outscoring the potent Presidents on his own and accruing 14 points throughout the season-opening showdown. Duarte hit from 22, 22, 27, and a career-high 41 yards on his four field goals, keeping the Pioneers in the lead as the offense began to find its footing. His accuracy allowed the team to still notch points, despite a few redzone stops from a rugged Presidents defense. Duarte became just the third Pioneer kicker ever to hit four field goals in a game, guiding the team to its eighth consecutive Believe Bowl victory.
 
Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) - Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper, Junior
 
Goalkeeper Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) was stout between the pipes in the Pioneers' three-game slate to open the 2026 campaign. Duro posted a pair of clean sheets against Potsdam and Canton, with a .769 save percentage across the three games, making a total of 10 saves. Against a tough Liberty League side, Ithaca, Duro managed eight saves through a complete 90 minutes where she was peppered with 24 total shots, and 12 on goal. Against both Potsdam and Canton, Duro posted a consecutive 170 minutes of shutout action, with her second career shutout coming against the Bears, and a combined effort coming against the Roos.
 
Extra Accolades
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - Football

• 1,000 Career Receiving Yards

 
*NOTE* - Due to Labor Day, the Empire 8 Weekly Awards will be announced tomorrow, September 8th. Please keep an eye on our athletics website for any Utica awards!
 
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 7th
4:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Oswego State | Casamento Field

• Live Video Link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/
• Live Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary

Wednesday, September 9th
3:30 PM - Women's Tennis vs SUNY Cortland | Utica Tennis Courts
4:00 PM - Men's Soccer at Hobart College

• Live Video Link: https://hwsathletics.com/watch/
• Live Stats Link: https://hwsathletics.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary

Friday, September 11th
            3:00 PM - Women's Volleyball at PSU-Behrend (PSU Behrend Invitational)

• Live Video Link: https://amcc.boxcast.com/#/upcoming
• Live Stats Link: https://psblions.com/sports/wvball/2026-27/boxscores/20260911_ca14.xml

3:30 PM - Women's Soccer vs Oswego State | @ Fredonia (Blue Devil Clarion Classic)

• Live Video Link: https://team1sports.com/fredonia/
• Live Stats Link: https://fredoniabluedevils.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary

4:00 PM - Women's Tennis vs Oswego State | Utica Tennis Courts
7:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Westminster (PA) | Erie, PA (PSU Behrend Invitational)

• Live Video Link: https://amcc.boxcast.com/#/upcoming
• Live Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

Saturday, September 12th
11:00 AM - Women's Volleyball vs Thiel | Erie, PA (PSU Behrend Invitational)

• Live Video Link: https://amcc.boxcast.com/#/upcoming
• Live Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

11:00 AM - M/W Cross Country at Hamilton

• Women start at 11:00 AM; men start at 11:45 AM

12:00 PM - Football at RPI

• Live Video Link: https://rpiathletics.com/coverage
• Live Stats Link: https://rpiathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
• Tickets Link: https://rpiathletics.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1668

12:00 PM - Field Hockey vs RPI | Gaetano Stadium

• Live Video Link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/
• Live Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/fhockey/summary

12:30 PM - Women's Soccer at Fredonia State (Blue Devil Clarion Classic)

• Live Video Link: https://team1sports.com/fredonia/
• Live Stats Link: https://fredoniabluedevils.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary

1:00 PM - Men's Soccer vs Morrisville State | Casamento Field

• Live Video Link: https://www.empire8network.com/utica/
• Live Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary

3:00 PM - Women's Volleyball vs Fredonia State | Erie, PA (PSU Behrend Invitational)

• Live Video Link: https://amcc.boxcast.com/#/upcoming
• Live Stats Link: https://uticapioneers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

4:00 PM - Women's Tennis at St. John Fisher
 
Notes for the Week Ahead:

• Men's Soccer opens its home schedule with a Monday 4:00 PM matchup against Oswego (1-1), followed by a second home game on Saturday at 1:00 PM against Morrisville State (2-0). Keep an eye on the Pioneers' midweek matchup at Hobart (2-0); the orange and blue welcomed the Statesmen last season in a matchup that came down to the final minutes. The Statesmen also finished the regular season undefeated in 2025, reaching a national ranking as high as #16 while winning the Liberty League and hosting first-round NCAA action.
• Women's Tennis hosts back-to-back home matchups on Wednesday vs Cortland (1-1) and Saturday vs Oswego (0-2). Stop and see them in action at the campus tennis courts!
• Football will head to Troy for a battle with the RPI Engineers (1-0), whom the team took down in last year's Believe Bowl. Despite the lopsided result, RPI ended up with a great season, staying in contention for the Liberty League title until the final week of the regular season, before defeating St. John Fisher on the road in last year's Clayton Chapman Bowl. Saturday's game kicks off at 12:00 from ECAV Field.
• Field Hockey hosts RPI (1-1) in their home opener on Saturday. That matchup will be the first of six scheduled home contests for the team and gets underway at 12:00 PM. Come down to Gaetano Stadium to see them in action!
• Women's Volleyball and Women's Soccer will each head west this weekend to participate in a couple of annual tournaments. The volleyball team will play four matches at the PSU-Behrend Invitational in Erie, PA, while the women's soccer team will head to Fredonia State for the annual four-team Blue Devil Clarion Classic.
• Cross Country will head down the road for the program's second meet of the season, this one taking place at Hamilton College.

 
WEEKLY PREVIEWS:
 
Cross Country - Utica's men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2026 season with matching team titles at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Short Course Invitational. Following an opening weekend that included an individual course record and commanding performances from both squads, the Pioneers will make another short trip Saturday to compete at the Hamilton College Short Course Invitational.
 
Last Week's Action: Both Pioneer squads finished with 17 points to sweep the team titles at SUNY Poly. The women claimed the first four individual places, led by Marlo Townsend's (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) course-record performance of 16:26.4 over the 4k course. Catherine Manna (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) followed in second at 17:53.3, with Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) third in 19:11.2 and Nicole Arnhold (Hampton, NY/Granville) fourth in 19:25.4. Tara Fobare (Sauquoit, NY/New Hartford) completed Utica's scoring five with a seventh-place finish in 19:46.4, helping the Pioneers defeat Hartwick, which finished with 38 points.
 
The men placed five runners in the top six to win the four-team field, finishing ahead of Hartwick's 61 points, SUNY Poly's 81 and Mohawk Valley Community College's 92. Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) won the 6k race in 19:26.1, followed by Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill) in second at 19:38.7 and Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) in third at 20:11.9. Brandon Knisely (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) finished fifth in 21:10.7, while Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central) rounded out the scoring group in sixth at 21:35.9.
 
This Week's Schedule:
At Hamilton College Short Course Invitational — Saturday, September 12th
Women: 11:00 AM
Men: 11:45 AM
 
Trax Fax:

• Townsend lowered the SUNY Poly women's course record by 11.6 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 16:38 set by Oneonta's Megan Francoeur in 2023. The senior finished 1:26.9 ahead of the field, and 3:00.1 better than the next non-Utica runner.
• The men continued their streak of dominance at the SUNY Poly Short Course Invitational, winning their fifth consecutive team title at the same annual event
• This individual win marks Melita's third consecutive at the event, and 10th overall individual win of his career

 
Up Next: Both teams will travel to Greenwich, NY to take on the RPI Fairgrounds Showdown on Saturday, September 26. Start time for the women is set for 10am, while start time for the men is set for 11am.
 
Field Hockey - The field hockey team will be on a week-long break following an opening week that included three separate matchups. This Saturday, the team will finally return to the field, with their home-opener scheduled to kick off at 12:00 PM against RPI down at Gaetano Stadium.
 
Last Week's Results
At Skidmore | Tuesday, September 1st

• L, 8-2 (Durfey - 1g, 1a, Chase - 1g)

At Oneonta State | Friday, September 4th

• L, 3-0

Vs St. Lawrence (@ Oneonta) | Saturday, September 5th

• L, 2-1 (OT) (Chase - 1g, Durfey - 2ds, Savona - 2ds)

 
Last Week's Action: The field hockey team opened up with a trio of tough contests against top opposition this past week, battling hard in matchups against Skidmore (1-1), Oneonta State (1-1), and St. Lawrence (3-0), the final of which may have been one of the Pioneers' greatest outings in recent history, as, despite suffering an overtime loss, the orange and blue held an advantage over the Saints for nearly 30 minutes, and were dangerously close to upending the Liberty League side, eventually falling in overtime. In that matchup, freshman phenom Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) scored the opener, nabbing her second goal in her first three career games. Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) was also stellar, scoring a goal and assisting on Chase's first collegiate score during the Pioneers opening match against Skidmore. Durfey also ended the week with two defensive saves, getting it done on both ends of the field.
 
This Week's Schedule:
Vs RPI - Saturday, September 12th, 12:00 PM | Gaetano Stadium
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers did well adapting to their new system, as seen by last week's results, where the Pioneers did better each and every game. The team's new talent has also done well to fit within the gameplan, evidenced by a strong opening week by Gabby Chase (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) and the other four freshmen who slotted in as starters last week.
• Last weekend's matchup against St. Lawrence was a glimpse at what the future of the team could look like, as the team stood toe-to-toe with the Saints, who now possess a 3-0 record along with wins against St. John Fisher and Morrisville State.
• Keep an eye out for a feature article about some of the team's top players from Section II. The team has a plethora of talent from the capital region this season, evidenced by Durfey, Chase, and Sydney Baptie (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich), who currently hold all the team's points through its first three games. All three players also both graduated from Section II schools. Keep an eye out for our first feature Friday article, coming this Friday, discussing the Pioneers Section II connection.
• Chase is the first freshman to score multiple goals in her first three career games since Alanna Fragapane (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) in 2022.
• Durfey is the first defender since Chloe Williams in 2021 to gather more than two points in a matchup. Durfey grabbed three points thanks to her goal and assist in the season-opener, while Williams had four points on two goals against Medaille. The Gansevoort native has been extremely versatile the past few seasons, improving her scoring tallies and defensive tactics each year.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
            RPI: The Engineers have been a powerful side over the past few years, traditionally faring well in conference play while faltering in the very strong Liberty League. RPI is currently 1-1, falling to Geneseo 4-3 in the season-opener before bouncing back with a big 7-4 win over Hartwick in game two. The Engineers will take on Hamilton on Tuesday, before returning to the Utica area on Saturday for a battle with the Pioneers.
            Junior forward Sophia Brown is the Engineers' most potent weapon, currently having scored half the team's goals (5 scores) over their two games. Senior defender Emily Dubord is the only other Engineer with multiple goals, as the Massachusetts native currently has two, so watch out for RPI to play from the back of their formation, or for the Troy-based team to move their defenders up on penalty corners. California native Kylie Secker also provides playmaking, having one goal and two assists over two games this season.
            The Pioneers have an 8-11 all-time record against the Engineers, including a split over the last two games between the programs. Utica fell in last year's clash, but won the prior battle in 2019 by a 4-3 overtime decision.
           
Up Next After This Week: Field hockey will head to Morrisville State next Wednesday, September 16th, for a midweek matchup, before beginning conference play on Saturday, September 19th, with a trip to two-time reigning Empire 8 Champion Geneseo
 
Football - Football prepares for its first road test this week, with a powerful RPI team waiting to welcome them to Troy on Saturday. The Engineers will be in search of revenge after the Pioneers took home a dominant 41-14 Believe Bowl win over RPI last season.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Washington & Jefferson | Saturday, September 5th

• W, 26-11 (Duarte - 4-4 FG, Davis - 3 TK, 1.5 Sack, 1 BU, Frazier - 126 yds)

 
Last Week's Action: A plethora of Pioneer seniors had career days in the team's 26-11 win over two-time reigning PAC Champion Washington & Jefferson during the annual Mastrovito Family Auto Group Believe 271 Bowl this past Saturday. Chief among those standout players was placekicker Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep), whose special teams heroics helped the Pioneers stay ahead of the visiting Presidents long enough to notch a few game-clinching touchdowns. Duarte had a perfect afternoon, going 6-for-6 including four field goals, one of which was a career-high 41-yard conversion. Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) and Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) led the defense as they held W&J to their fewest points (11) since a 2022 tilt against a ranked Carnegie Mellon side (7). The win was the Pioneers' eighth straight victory in the annual Believe Bowl.

This Week's Schedule:
At RPI - Saturday, September 12th, 12:00 PM
 
Trax Fax:

• Coach Faggiano made an emphatic return to the playcalling ranks, as his game plan, alongside the talent of Pioneer defenders such as Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) and Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale), helped hold Washington & Jefferson to its lowest point total since 2022.
• The Pioneer defense also held yet another opponent to under 200 yards passing, a trend that's continued since week one of last season, when the Pioneers gave up 338 passing yards to Kellan Stahl. The team has not allowed another 200-yard passing game since then, going 11 games over that span.
• Superstar tight end Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) had another great outing on his 22nd birthday, hauling in over 100 yards in the passing game to help power the Pioneer offense. That performance helped him surpass the 1,000-yard receiving threshold, joining recent Pioneers like Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Antonio Cianfarani (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville), who achieved the feat this past season. Frederick accomplished the feat on just 86 catches, averaging six catches per outing, 12.4 yards per catch, and 75.9 yards per game.
• Senior wideout Tyshawn Taylor (Syracuse, NY/Syracuse Institute of Technology) is also nearing the feat, currently having 720 yards on 46 catches, an average of 15.7 yards per catch.
• Szalkowski tossed for 302 yards in Saturday's contest, boosting his total of 300+ yard games to seven in just 12 career games.
• The Pioneer offensive line extended its streak of sackless games to seven, with the last recorded sack against the Utica offense coming in week five of last season, when the team traveled to face Cortland. The Red Dragons sacked Szalkowski in the third quarter with about eight minutes left, meaning that the team has gone 337 days, 443 minutes of gametime, and 497 offensive plays without allowing a single sack.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
            RPI: The Engineers will enter Saturday's contest with a 1-0 record after defeating WPI 35-7 in the Transit Trophy Game this past weekend. RPI is coming off a season in which the team was in contention for the Liberty League Championship until the final week of play. However, the Engineers would go on to defeat St. John Fisher in the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl, ending their season in championship fashion. Even with the lopsided score, RPI only picked up 12 first downs in the contest while rushing for 94 yards and passing for 221 yards. The Troy-based team scored two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns during the game, with their balanced offense helping the team go 3-for-4 in the redzone. In what was a weird matchup, the Engineers only held the ball for 16 minutes, going 2-for-6 on third down. RPI was extremely efficient, owing to their 28-point victory in just 40 plays of total offense, 49 fewer than WPI. The Engineers held WPI to just 0.8 yards per rush, locking down the line of scrimmage. Three WPI turnovers and 27 yards per reception by RPI were what ultimately decided the matchup.
            Junior quarterback Micah Balzarini was the catalyst behind that passing game, completing eight passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while not throwing any interceptions. Senior running back Kayden White nabbed the Engineers' two rushing touchdowns and is poised for another solid season after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior linebacker Joe Dechiaro led all defenders with 14 tackles, flying all over the field to create the impressive run stop that the Engineers displayed. Fellow senior linebacker P.J. Poknis also picked up double-digit tackles, wrapping up with 10 takedowns, three of which went for a loss. The Engineers picked up nine quarterback hurries and five sacks.
            The Pioneers are 4-9 all-time against the Engineers, but have been more dominant recently, grabbing three out of the last five meetings between the two teams.
 
Up Next After This Week: Football will return home next Saturday, September 19th for the Pioneers' annual Mohawk Valley Challengers Day. The team will take on Hobart College and will look to slow down EJ Taylor and the Statesmen offense, hoping to get a win back against one of their few losses from the 2025 season.
 
Golf - Utica University's men's and women's golf teams opened the 2026-27 season at the St. Lawrence Invitational in Canton, NY.
 
Last Week's Action: The men placed 11th in the 13-team field with rounds of 319 and 307, led by Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, Ontario/Blyth Academy), who tied for 14th overall after shooting +2 and +3 across the two days. Louie Roman (Oswego, NY/Oswego), Koltin Pickell (Ellenville, NY/Ellenvlle), and Daniel Maloney (Syracuse, NY/Living Word Academy) rounded out the team scoring, while the women competed without recording a team placement. Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) led the women across two rounds, Jordan Dorrity (Constableville, NY/South Lewis Central) posted the team's best single round with a +22 on day two, and Olivia Peckham (Shaftsbury, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) made her collegiate debut.
 
Up Next: Both teams return to action September 20th and 21st at the Casler Masonry Invitational, hosted at Yahnundasis Golf Club.
 
Women's Soccer - The women's soccer team will be off for nearly a week following a busy opening stretch that saw the Pioneers play three games in five days. The Pioneers will return to action on Friday, September 11, when they travel to Fredonia for a 3:30 p.m. matchup at University Stadium in the annual Blue Devil Clarion Classic, hosted by Fredonia.
 
Last Week's Results
Vs Ithaca | Tuesday, September 1st

• L, 3-1 (Kraft - 1g)

At SUNY Potsdam | Friday, September 4th

• T, 0-0

Vs SUNY Canton | Saturday, September 5th

• W, 9-0 (Dischiavo - 2g, Calabria - 2g, Wagner - 1g, 1a, Hewson - 1g, 1a, Flockton - 1g, Rochefort - 1g, Jalocha - 1g, 1a)

Last Week's Action: The women's soccer team opened the 2026 season with three games in five days, battling through a difficult matchup with Ithaca before earning a scoreless draw at SUNY Potsdam and exploding offensively in a 9-0 win over SUNY Canton. The Pioneers faced a strong Ithaca side in their home opener, with Emily Duro (Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) making nine saves to keep Utica within striking distance. Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) provided the lone goal for the Pioneers, blasting home a free kick from 25 yards out in the second half for her first goal of the season. Utica then traveled to Potsdam, where the Pioneers controlled much of the opening half and generated several quality scoring chances before settling for a 0-0 draw. Duro and the Pioneer defense stood firm once again, allowing just one shot on goal throughout the match.
Utica saved its most impressive performance of the week for Saturday, dominating SUNY Canton from start to finish in a 9-0 victory at Laura M. Casamento Field. Sophomores Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) and Ella Dischiavo (Utica, NY/Sauquoit Valley) each scored twice, while Bailey Hewson (Plattsburgh, NY/Plattsburgh), Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) and Ayla Flockton (Plymouth, MA/Plymouth North) also found the back of the net. Sophomore Sydney Rochefort (Massena, NY/Massena Central) and junior transfer Abigail Jalocha (Maspeth, NY/Monsignior McClancy Memorial) added their first goals as Pioneers to cap the offensive outburst. Wagner and Hewson each added an assist, while Lily Martin (Poland, NY/Poland) and Krista Panko (Ilion, NY/Central Valley Academy) also recorded assists in the victory. Duro continued her strong start to the season with her second consecutive shutout, while the Pioneers' defense closed the week having surrendered just three goals across their opening three contests. Following a challenging start to the season, Utica closed the week at 1-1-1 overall with plenty of momentum heading into its next stretch of action.

This Week's Schedule:
At Fredonia - September 11th, 2026, 3:30pm
Vs. Oswego @Fredonia - September 12th, 2026, 12:30pm
 
Trax Fax:

• The Pioneers have already shown a major offensive turnaround. After scoring just one goal over the first two games, Utica erupted for nine goals against Canton. The Pioneers finished the game with 32 shots and 19 shots on goal, while holding Canton to just two shots and one shot on target.
• The Pioneers are getting production from both returning players and newcomers. Returning players Wagner, Hewson, Flockton and Kraft have all scored this season, while transfers Dischiavo and Jalocha have also gotten on the board. Dischiavo scored twice against Canton, while Jalocha scored her first goal as a Pioneer in the victory.
• Ella Dischiavo (Utica, NY/Sauquoit Valley) wasted no time making an impact in her first season with Utica. The transfer from Lynchburg University scored twice against Canton, matching the two-goal performance of sophomore Adrianna Calabria (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse). Dischiavo appeared in nine games during her freshman season at Lynchburg before joining the Pioneers.
• The defensive standard established last season is already carrying over. Utica graduated several major defensive contributors, including Samantha Kogut (North Adams, MA/Drury) and Kayla Giovingo (Centereach, NY/Centereach), from a 2025 team that allowed just 0.68 goals per game. Despite those departures, the Pioneers have posted back-to-back shutouts and allowed just three goals through three games.
• Cora Kraft (Poughquag, NY/Arlington) has continued her offensive development. After scoring four goals and adding two assists in 2025, Kraft opened her senior campaign with a spectacular 25-yard free kick against Ithaca. Her 26 shots last season more than doubled her 2024 total, showing how much her role has expanded offensively.
• Madison Wagner (Saukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) is another returning player who could take on an even bigger role this season. Wagner started 18 games as a sophomore in 2025 and recorded four goals and five assists. Her five assists ranked among the top 10 single-season totals in program history, and she already has a goal and an assist through the opening three games of 2026.

Upcoming Opponents:
Fredonia: The Fredonia Blue Devils are off to a 2-1 start this season, falling in the team's opener to fellow Empire 8 Conference member Nazareth, before taking the team's next two matches, with the first against another Empire 8 foe, Houghton, by a score of 2-1, and a 2-0 victory over the College of Wooster. Fredonia has shown much potential in the last two seasons, making back-to-back appearances in the SUNYAC Semifinal in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Pioneers are going into this matchup looking for the team's first win against Fredonia in the Blue Devil Classic. All-time, the Pioneers are 0-4-1 against the Blue Devils and are looking to carry momentum from successful outings last weekend into this weekend's matchup.
Two different Blue Devils have managed to find the back of the net so far this season: Bronwyn Madden and Gabby Irwin, with the pair combining for four of the Blue Devils' five goals so far this season. Madden also leads the Blue Devils in shots on goal with five, followed by Irwin and Anna Ratchuk with four apiece. Ratchuk has been the primary facilitator for Fredonia so far this season, with a pair of assists to her name.
Between the pipes, freshman Allyssa Hatch has been poised for Fredonia, posting an .810 save percentage in her first three collegiate starts. Collecting her first collegiate shutout against Wooster, Hatch has made 17 saves and has posted a 1.33 goals-against average through the first three games.
 
Oswego: The Oswego State Lakers are off to a 0-2 start to the 2026 campaign, falling 2-0 to fellow Empire 8 member SUNY Brockport, which was followed by a 7-0 loss to local foe Hamilton College. Oswego has been a perennial power in the SUNYAC Conference, making an appearance in the last four consecutive conference tournaments, with back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2023. The Pioneers are also looking for their first victory over the Lakers in the Blue Devil Classic, with an all-time record of 0-3-1 against Oswego in the annual classic.
Through two games, the Lakers have managed a total of eight shots on goal, with a total of six coming off the feet of Kyla Sustad and Julia Carter. Sustad has created the most scoring opportunities for the Lakers, registering six total shots, while Emily Rath has registered four, none of which have been able to find the frame.
A trio of Lakers have stood between the pipes in two games, with Lamia Kosick receiving the starting nod in both contests. The sophomore keeper has registered seven saves, while allowing seven goals, posting a .500 save percentage on 21 shots faced. Junior keeper Alexa Bennett saw her first action of the 2026 season against SUNY Brockport, allowing three goals in under 17 minutes of play, while making two saves. Freshman keeper Cassaundra Carpenter saw her first collegiate action against Hamilton College, posting a clean sheet in her 18 minutes of action against the Continentals.
 
Up Next: After the Clarion Classic, the team returns home to take on the Morrisville Mustangs on Tuesday, September 15, with kickoff set for 4pm from Laura M. Casamento Field, before opening conference play against SUNY Geneseo on Saturday, September 19 at 1pm from Laura M. Casamento Field.
 
Men's Soccer - Utica men's soccer began its 2026 season by splitting its two road games of opening week. The squad began with a 1-0 victory over SUNY Canton before falling 2-0 to Hamilton. The team is now ready to begin its only three-game week of the season, including two home games, one of them the home opener.
 
Last Week's Action: Utica opened the 2026 season with a split on the road, defeating SUNY Canton 1-0 before falling 2-0 to local rival Hamilton College. Freshman Mao Nkurunziza (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) delivered the game-winner in his collegiate debut at Canton, collecting a pass from Chase Abbott (Penfield, NY/Penfield) and cutting away from two defenders before firing beneath the crossbar. Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) stopped all three shots he faced to secure his third career shutout, while Joseph Cavallo (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central) accounted for Utica's other two shots on target. The Pioneers then held Hamilton scoreless through the opening half Saturday before Troy Miller scored twice in a span of 4:50 early in the second half. Senior captains Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) and Cavallo led Utica with three and two shots, respectively, each putting one on target. Accetta added three saves against the Continentals, finishing the week with six.
 
This Week's Schedule:
vs Oswego St. - Monday, September 7th, 4:00 PM
At Hobart - Wednesday, September 9th, 4:30 PM
vs SUNY Morrisville - Saturday, September 12th, 1:00 PM
 
Trax Fax:

• Utica took a 1-0 win in its season opener at SUNY Canton last Tuesday. Nkurunziza, a freshman, scored the game-winner in his debut during the 70th minute. In 2025, freshmen accounted for 39 points (14g, 11a) of the team's 120 total (45g, 30a)
• The Pioneers scored the second-most goals in the E8 last season (45), one of just four teams with more than 30
• 2025 was Utica's first winning season since 2021, when they last matched their nine-win total, but their third appearance in an E8 Semifinal game during that span
• The Pioneers have played to a combined 12 draws in the past two seasons, accounting for roughly 27% of the program's total ties since the 1995 season.
• Oswego finished 2025 at 3-7-6 overall and 2-4-3 in SUNYAC play, earning conference wins over Canton and Potsdam. The Lakers recorded five clean sheets and played to six draws, including three scoreless ties.

 
Upcoming Opponents:
Oswego: The Lakers finished 2025 with a 3-7-6 overall record and a 2-4-3 mark in SUNYAC play, earning victories over Marywood, Canton and Potsdam. Oswego scored 14 goals across 16 matches and was held scoreless nine times, but recorded five shutouts of its own. Three of the Lakers' six draws ended 0-0.
 
Tajay Ellis led Oswego with four goals and eight points, while Cerixey Lindsay added two goals and an assist. Ian Husselbeck also scored twice, with Edis Omerovic and Simon Bastone sharing the team lead with two assists apiece. Kyle Rose handled the majority of the goalkeeping duties, recording 73 saves, a .785 save percentage and a 1.37 goals-against average across 15 appearances.
 
Hobart: The Statesmen finished 2025 with a 13-1-5 overall record and a 6-0-3 mark in Liberty League play, going unbeaten through their first 18 matches. Hobart outscored opponents 34-12 and recorded nine shutouts, with its lone loss coming in a 1-0 season-ending overtime defeat to Messiah University during the first round of the NCAA DIII Championship Tournament. The Statesmen also edged Utica 2-1 in last year's meeting, after a go-ahead goal by Bucher before Statesman goals in the 36th and 74th minutes.
Hobart returns its top three scorers, led by junior forward Brady Leitner, who recorded nine goals and four game-winners. Senior midfielder Quinn Phillips added five goals and four assists, while junior defender Griffin Coutts contributed five goals and three assists. Senior midfielder Joe Pariano also returns after leading the team with five assists. In net, the Statesmen will replace Tommy Chyzowych, who handled most of last season's workload. Junior Jake Hans brings experience after posting a 2-0-1 record, two shutouts and an .846 save percentage across four appearances in 2025.
Morrisville: The Mustangs finished 2025 with a 5-8-3 overall record and a 2-5-2 mark in SUNYAC play. Morrisville scored 26 goals while allowing 27, earning four of its five victories at home. The Mustangs closed the season with three consecutive losses, while Utica claimed a 2-0 road victory in last year's meeting.
 
Sophomore forward Aaron Chapman returns after sharing the team lead with seven goals and 15 points, including two game-winners. Junior midfielder Pedro Oliveira supplied two goals and a team-high seven assists, while senior forward Musab Kamaldeen added three goals. Morrisville replaced fellow seven-goal scorer Christ Fopossi Tchuente and goalkeeper Ronaldo Fatolou, who recorded 88 saves across 16 appearances.
 
Women's Tennis - Women's tennis utilised a new-look lineup in its opening two matches of the season, fighting valiantly but ultimately falling against a pair of strong non-conference opponents. The team will look to bounce back this week, with two non-conference contests to wrap up non-conference play, before engaging in Empire 8 play with a Saturday showdown against St. John Fisher.
 
Last Week's Action: A new-look Pioneer tennis team took on two tough battles this week, facing off against Oneonta State (2-0) before welcoming Alfred University (1-1) for the team's home opener. Sophomore Hannah Loebakka had a few solid outings, including taking her opponent down to the wire in the first set of her Alfred University singles match. Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) also put in a few strong outings to tip off her final season with the Pioneers. The team will look to steal a few more games against SUNYAC competition this coming week when they match up with Cortland State and Oswego State.

This Week's Schedule:
Vs Cortland State - Wednesday, September 9th, 3:30 PM
Vs Oswego State - Friday, September 11th, 4:00 PM
At St. John Fisher - Saturday, September 12th, 4:00 PM
 
Trax Fax:

• Sophomore Hannah Loebakka has been within striking distance of a few winning sets, most recently pushing Alfred's Becca Epping to a 7-6 opening set at No. 3 singles during last Saturday's tilt.
• Utica enters its first three-match week of the season with a young roster that includes four freshmen and three sophomores, while graduate student Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and senior Hannah Slater (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) provide experience at the top and bottom of the lineup. The early season will be about growth and development as the team's young talent look to find their footing.
• The Pioneers will face three teams that all reached postseason competition last season. Cortland and Oswego both advanced to the SUNYAC Tournament, while St. John Fisher competed in the Empire 8 Championship

 
Upcoming Opponents:

Cortland: The Red Dragons enter Wednesday's matchup at Utica with a 1-1 record after opening the season with a 7-0 loss to SUNY Geneseo before bouncing back with a 7-0 victory at Houghton. Cortland went 8-5 during the 2025-26 fall season and advanced to the SUNYAC Championship match, where it fell to New Paltz.
Oswego: The Lakers will visit Utica on Friday as they begin the 2026-27 campaign against a challenging regional schedule. Oswego was picked second in the 2026 SUNYAC preseason poll, trailing only Cortland, after reaching the SUNYAC Tournament last season and falling to Cortland 4-3 in the opening round. First Team All-SUNYAC selection Avery Borman returns for the Lakers alongside Leah Bell, Emily DeLuca, Isabella Eason, Kate Hayes and Alexis Christian.
St. John Fisher: The Pioneers will close the week with their first Empire 8 matchup of the season, traveling to St. John Fisher on Saturday. The Cardinals finished last season with a 4-6 Empire 8 record before falling to Alfred 4-2 in the conference championship quarterfinals. Fisher returns several key pieces, including junior Lily Miller, who posted an 8-3 singles record last season while going a perfect 6-0 in Empire 8 singles play and earning First Team All-Empire 8 honors.

Volleyball - Women's volleyball opened the 2026 season with five matches across five days, battling through a challenging opening stretch that included four matches at the Oneonta Invitational. After dropping their first four contests, the Pioneers closed the week on a high note with a dominant sweep of Paul Smith's College. Utica will have another busy weekend ahead, traveling to Erie, PA for the Penn State Behrend Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
 
Last Week's Results
At SUNY Morrisville, Tuesday, September 1st

• L, 3-0

At Oneonta, Friday, September 4th

• L, 3-0

Vs. Rochester, Friday, September 4th

• L, 3-1 (Bailey - 13k)

Vs. Wheaton, Saturday, September 5th

• L, 3-1 (Bailey - 11k, 16d)

Vs. Paul Smith's, Saturday, September 5th

• W, 3-0 (Rice - 8k, Ancewicz - 10a, 10 aces)

 
Last Week's Action: The Utica University women's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with five matches over five days, battling through a difficult opening stretch before closing the week with its first victory of the season. The Pioneers opened the year at SUNY Morrisville on Tuesday, falling in three sets despite a competitive opening frame that featured nine ties and six lead changes. Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) led Utica with eight kills and a team-high 15 digs, while Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) added 10 assists and three service aces.
 
Utica then traveled to the Oneonta Invitational for four matches over two days. The Pioneers dropped a 3-0 decision to the host Red Dragons on Friday before battling the University of Rochester in a four-set match. Utica came out strong against Rochester, racing to an 18-10 lead before taking the opening set, 25-14. Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the Pioneers with 13 kills on 40 attacks while hitting .275, while Elizabeth Hanba (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added seven kills.
 
The Pioneers returned to the court Saturday against Wheaton College and once again found themselves in a tightly contested match. Utica claimed the opening set, 25-20, before Wheaton rallied to take the next three frames. Bailey led the Pioneers with 11 kills and 16 digs, while Wright anchored the defense with 29 digs. Utica then responded emphatically in its final match of the weekend, sweeping Paul Smith's College, 3-0. Layla Rice (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) led the attack with eight kills while hitting .583, and Ancewicz recorded 10 assists and 10 service aces. Utica dominated from the opening serve, taking the first set 25-0 and finishing the match with a 25-12, 25-5 victory.
 
This Week's Schedule: (All matches to take place in the Junker Center, Erie, PA)
At Penn State Behrend, September 11th, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
Vs. Westminster, September 11th, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Vs. Thiel, September 12th, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Vs. Fredonia, September 12th, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
 
Trax Fax:

• Trinity Bailey (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) has led the Pioneers offensively through the opening week. Bailey leads Utica with 38 kills and 46.5 points through 15 sets, averaging 2.53 kills and 3.10 points per set. She has also added 40 digs and seven service aces. Bailey recorded a season-high 13 kills against Rochester while hitting .275 before following that with 11 kills and 16 digs against Wheaton.
• Megan Wright (Cold Brook, NY/Oriskany) has continued to make an impact both offensively and defensively. Wright has 13 kills and six assists through 16 sets while anchoring the Pioneers' defense with a team-high 78 digs, averaging 4.88 digs per set. She recorded a season-high 29 digs against Wheaton.
• Alicia Ancewicz (Greenlawn, NY/John Glenn) has been a major weapon from the service line while helping direct the offense. Ancewicz has totaled 53 assists and a team-high 16 service aces through 16 sets, averaging 3.31 assists and 1.00 ace per set. She recorded 10 assists and three aces against Morrisville, then set a new career-best with 10 aces in the sweep of Paul Smith's.
• The Pioneers have been strong from the service line and have kept games extremely close in total scoring. Utica has recorded 46 service aces compared to 32 for its opponents and holds a narrow 355-351 advantage in total points through the opening week.

Upcoming Opponents:
Penn State Behrend: Penn State Behrend enters the weekend after opening the 2026 season at the Bearcat Challenge. The Lions opened with a win over Bethany before falling to Grove City, and currently hold a 1-1 record. Cadence Jones leads the Behrend offense with 59 kills through 15 sets, averaging 3.93 kills per set while totaling 71.5 points. Olivia Swinarski has added 33 kills at 2.54 per set, while Hannah Smith is hitting a team-best .304 with 25 kills. Kylie Fehlman has been a presence at the net with 14 total blocks, including six solo blocks. Brynne Smith has directed the offense with 136 assists, averaging 9.07 per set, while Aubrey Sammons leads the team with 62 digs and 4.13 digs per set. As a team, Behrend is hitting .192 and averaging 11.80 kills, 11.00 assists, 2.53 aces, 14.93 digs and 1.87 blocks per set.
 
Westminster: Westminster enters the weekend with a 3-2 record after competing at the RIT Invitational, where the Titans went 3-1 across their first two days before falling to Penn State Behrend in a five-set battle in their most recent match. Liv Trent leads the Westminster attack with 50 kills through 17 sets, averaging 2.94 kills per set, while Morgan O'Brien has been a key all-around contributor with 40 kills, 79 assists, 11 aces and 43 digs. Zoie Reid has added 29 kills at 2.42 per set, while Brooke Gecina has been the Titans' defensive leader with 91 digs and 5.35 digs per set. Westminster has also been strong from the service line, with O'Brien leading the team with 11 aces, followed by Anna-Kate Davis with 10 and Halle Albers with nine. The Titans have totaled 213 kills, 193 assists, 48 aces and 322 digs through 19 sets.
 
Thiel: Thiel will make its 2026 season debut this weekend, so the Tomcats' 2025 campaign provides the most recent statistical look at the team. Thiel finished last season 17-9 and will open this year's schedule Friday against Fredonia and Muskingum before facing Utica Saturday morning. Arin DeLattre returns as one of Thiel's top offensive threats after recording 242 kills, averaging 2.78 kills per set and hitting .319 in 2025. She also totaled 29 aces and 87 blocks. Lyndzee Amory recorded 165 kills and 40 blocks last season, while Caitlin Stephens added 90 kills and 41 blocks. Carlie Reynolds returns to run the Tomcats' offense after totaling 901 assists and averaging 10.01 assists per set, while Danielle Aulet led the team defensively with 455 digs and 5.06 digs per set. Thiel also faced several of this weekend's opponents last season, including Penn State Behrend and Westminster.
 
Fredonia: Fredonia comes into the weekend undefeated at 2-0 after opening the season with a 3-0 sweep of Pitt-Bradford on September 1 before earning a four-set victory over Nazareth on September 5. The Blue Devils will play Muskingum and Thiel on Friday before meeting Westminster and Utica on Saturday. Donnilynn Sheldon leads Fredonia offensively with 18 kills through seven sets, averaging 2.57 kills per set while hitting .351. Kylie O'Brien has added 16 kills at 2.29 per set, while Maeve Musielak has recorded 15 kills and averages 2.14 per set. Molly Cassidy has directed the Fredonia offense with 36 assists, averaging 5.14 assists per set, while Megan Nottis has contributed 24 digs and a team-high six aces. Sasha Zayatz has also added 14 digs and five aces. As a team, Fredonia is hitting .123 and averaging 9.71 kills, 9.43 assists, 3.00 aces and 12.71 digs per set
 
Up Next: The team will play at home for the first time in 2026, playing host to the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers in the team's annual First Responders Match on Wednesday, September 16, beginning at 7pm, before traveling to Oswego, NY for the Oswego State Invitational on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19.
 
COMING UP SOON:
 
All-in to Win: Utica University athletics is once again asking for your support in order to help your Pioneers perform at the highest level! Our All-In to Win campaign directly supports all teams here at Utica University by supplying them with the best equipment, medicine, and experience that they can possibly attain. With your help, we can bring Utica University to the top of the Division III landscape. This year's All-In to Win campaign will take place from September 16-19. Every cent goes towards helping Utica University provide the best opportunities for each and every Pioneer athlete. Check out our website or social media during the campaign days for more information on how you can donate!
 
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!
 
Feature Friday - The Greenwich Girls - Coming Out THIS Friday! - Keep an eye out on our athletics social media channels and athletics website for this week's Feature Friday article about Utica field hockey's Section II Connection! That article will be made available at 12:00 on Friday afternoon!
 
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