UTICA, NY – Senior midfielder Richard Lander (Narrowsburg, NY/Sullivan West) scored to break a second-half tie and give the Alfred University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over host Utica College Friday evening in Empire 8 Conference action.
 
With the score 1-1 with 15:27 left in regulation, Lander took a free kick from outside the penalty box and the shot got past Utica keeper Matthew Milograno. The goal proved to be the game-winner, Lander's second in as many games. On Wednesday, his overtime goal gave the Saxons a 2-1 victory over visiting King's College.
 
Against Utica, AU (6-1-1, 1-0-1 Empire 8) took an early lead on a goal by sophomore midfielder Adam Taylor (Newton, NJ/Sussex County Technical) 1:48 into the game. Taylor's header came on an assist from junior midfielder Miguel Reyes (Valencia, Venezuela/La Salle).
 
Utica (1-7-0, 0-2-0 E8) knotted the game up with 12:36 left in the first half when Cheick Tounkara assisted on a goal by Bita Gazaskvili.
 
Junior Chris Gutierrez (Holbrook, NY/Sachem East) made four saves to earn the win goal for AU, which outshot Utica 12-5. Milograno made six saves for the Pioneers.
 
AU is in action next on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m., when the Saxons host non-conference foe Rochester.