Ruffing Becomes Program's All-Time Leading Goal Scorer

Ruffing Becomes Program's All-Time Leading Goal Scorer

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UTICA, NY – Utica College senior forward Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) became the program's all-time leader in career goals scored after his impressive two goal/two assist performance in the Pioneers convincing 6-0 win over Nazareth College on Saturday in Empire 8 Conference action at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.  Ruffing now has 28 career goals and moved into sole possession of first place all-time, separating himself from Evan Dufault '07 and Kevin McAllister '13 (26 goals each). 

Five different Pioneers scored at least one goal and three UC players scored at least three points on the afternoon.  Senior Jordan Senay (Lockport, NY/Lockport) and junior Marcel Dupuis (Hannacroix, NY/Greenville) each registered a career-high three points on the evening to help pace the Pioneers.

The Pioneers have now won three of their last five games and improved to 4-6 overall and 1-1 in the Empire 8.  Nazareth fell to 0-9 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.

Dupuis got UC on the board just 6:29 into the contest after Ruffing sent a crossing pass through the box and connected with the right foot of Dupuis to give Utica a 1-0 advantage.

Less than five minutes later Utica sophomore Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia) was tackled in the box and earned a penalty kick for the Pioneers.  Junior Owen Gillam (Bristol, CT/Bristol) got the call and converted the penalty kick for his first collegiate goal to give UC a 2-0 lead 11:11 into the contest.

UC's Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) then become the College's all-time leading goal scorer in the 29th minute when he received a through ball from Gazashvili and scored to give UC a 3-0 lead.  Ruffing now has a team-best 14 points this season and 66 career points to his credit.  He needs two more points to move into second place on the College's all-time scoring list. 

Senay gave Utica a 4-0 lead at 46:38 when Ruffing sent a crossing pass into the box that was touched into the back of the net by Senay.  It was Senay's first goal of the season and the third of his career.

Ruffing was not finished as he scored his second goal of the evening at 53:23, off an assist from Senay, to put the Pioneers on top 5-0.

UC's Gustaf Petersen (Stockholm, Sweden/Blackebergs) closed out the scoring on the afternoon when he netted his first of the year, after a nice through ball from Dupuis, to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead in the 66th minute.

Utica goalie Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) made six saves in his first collegiate shutout victory.  Naz goalie's Alex McLean and Nate Ripic combined for seven saves in net for the Golden Flyers.