UTICA, NY—The AU men's soccer team (9-7-2 Empire 8 3-3-1) punched their ticket to the Empire 8 Conference Tournament despite losing 4-1 to Utica College on the blustery Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers got out to an early lead with a goal in the fifth minute when Bita Gazashvili broke into the AU box and curled the ball around the keeper to get on the board. It was Gazashvili again in the 13^th minute when the ball was tipped by an AU defender to the feet of Gazashvili who broke into the box again to increase the Pioneer advantage 2-0. 
 
The Saxons came out of halftime looking to mount a comeback and put shots on goal early. Kyle Craver (Great Falls, VA/Field School) and Jeff Thomas (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) were on the shots for the Saxons, combining for five in the second with three in the first 20 mins. The Saxons finally broke onto the board when Richard Lander (Narrowsburg, NY/Sullivan West) found Thomas in the box off a corner and Thomas headed the ball past the keeper bringing the Saxons within striking distance. Over the course of the next seven minutes, the Saxons put together a vicious attack looking to even the game at two. 
 
The Pioneers, on the other hand, had different plans. Shane Ruffing netted a goal in the 75^th and the 87^th minutes to give the Pioneers some room, resulting in the 4-1 conference win for the hosts.
 
Freshman keeper Chris Gutierrez (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) had two saves on the afternoon.
 
Despite the loss, the Saxons were still able to clinch a trip to Hoboken, NJ for the Empire 8 tournament next weekend. AU is seeded fourth in the conference and will take on No. 1 seeded Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday Nov. 7^th at 1:00 pm. The Ducks beat the Saxons 4-0 in Hoboken earlier this season on October 25. With the victory over AU, Utica clinched the No. 3 seed and will take on Ithaca College.