Utica Tops Ithaca to Advance to Empire 8 Championship Game
Video Clips:
Goal 1 |
Goal 2
UTICA, NY - The second-seeded Utica College men's soccer team took a two goal lead in the first half and never looked back on its way to a 2-0 victory over visiting and third seeded Ithaca College Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The Pioneers will now take on host and top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology in the championship game in Hoboken, NJ on Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Pioneers (10-9), who were making their fourth conference tournament appearance in the last seven years, are advancing to the E8 championship game for the first time in program-history. Wednesday night also marked the first conference tournament victory for UC in program-history.
"We played well tonight on both ends and we were able to score a couple of quality goals against a very good opponent," said third year Head Coach
Eric Watson. "I'm certainly proud of the effort tonight and we will enjoy this win, but we have to regroup quickly and prepare for one of the top teams in the country (Stevens)."
Utica split the season series with the Bombers, as the Pioneers rebounded from a 4-1 midseason loss to Ithaca back on October 19th. Ithaca wraps up its season with a 4-13 overall record, with three of those victories coming in conference play during the regular season.
Senior captain
Kevin McAllister started the scoring for the Pioneers when he headed home his eighth goal of the season in the 21st minute to put the Pioneers on top 1-0 early in the contest.
Evan Bailey started the play to
Alex Sheridan, and Sheridan sent a long ball into the box where McAllister was waiting on the opposite post to head home the low header past Ithaca goalie Jordan Gentile.
Sophomore midfielder Denis Runikera put the Pioneers on top 2-0 at the 40:09 mark of the first half when he finished an excellent series of passes. Sheridan once again started the scoring play with a long ball into the box, which was played off the foot of senior
Jonathon Peterson, right to a wide open Runikera right in front of the net. Runikera was able to finish the goal, his third of the season, to give the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage headed into the half.
Ithaca out shot UC 5-1 in the second half but the UC defense stood strong and senior goalkeeper
Anthony Caruso stopped five total shots on his way to his sixth shutout of the season. UC, winners of three in a row, has now shut out its opponent in two of their last three games.
Ithaca out shout Utica 7-6 overall on the afternoon, while the Pioneers earned a 4-3 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
Saturday's Empire 8 Championship game between the nationally-ranked No. 4/5 Stevens Ducks and the Pioneers will be streamed live online via www.empire8.tv. Stevens has beaten UC in two previous Empire 8 Conference tournament matchups in 2008 and 2010. The Ducks also handed UC a loss earlier this season by the score of 3-0. The winner of Saturday's contest will earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.