ALFRED, N.Y. – The Alfred University men's soccer team stayed alive in its race for an Empire 8 postseason spot, tallying a pair of second-half goals to top Utica 2-1 from Yunevich Stadium at Merrill Field on a rainy Saturday evening.
 
The Saxons (6-10, 2-3 Empire 8) win their second straight game to move to a two-way tie with Sage for fifth in the league standings with six points. They are one point behind St. John Fisher and Utica (9-6-2, 2-3-1) with one game to play, which is incidentally against the Cardinals in Rochester Nov. 2. The Saxons are in with a win over St. John Fisher. Alfred can finish as high as second with a win and losses by Elmira and Sage.
 
AU was spurred on by a pair of Saif Alseyofi (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia/AQS) goals off corner chances. Zachary Gloskin (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) provided the assists. Jon Nadolne (Port Washington, N.Y./Schreiber) picked up the crucial victory in net, making four saves. AU outshot Utica by a 14-12 margin and won the corner battle, 5-2.
 
Adnan Bakalovic scored Utica's lone goal in the 49^th minute. Jhony Theze sprung Bakalovic with a well-placed through ball from just inside midfield. Bakalovic worked around the defender and the charging Saxon goalie, slotting a low shot on the right corner.
 
Utica nearly doubled the score in the 72nd minute. Brady Maloney received the ball from about 28 yards out, making a few defenders and the goalie miss, but he took an unlucky chance, clipping the crossbar. Eight minutes later, AU made Utica pay for its folly. Off a corner chance, Gloskin lofted it perfectly over the Utica goalie, to the left of goal in a scrum. Alseyofi lifted himself above the wave of Pioneer defenders, heading the chance with power into the net.
 
AU nearly took the lead off another corner opportunity. Gloskin sent the ball over the goalie for a second time, as Alseyofi reached over the defenders for the header. His chance was too high as it hit the cross bar. The Saxons finally took the lead in the 86^th minute, as the Gloskin-Alseyofi connection struck again off a corner opportunity. Just like the first goal, Alseyofi rose above the Utica defenders, heading a shot past Pioneers keeper Chris Rosato.

From there, the Alfred defense did its job, keeping Utica from making a dangerous attempt at net.

Before the contest, the Saxons honored its five-man senior class: Larsen Lindor (Rochester, N.Y./East), Raquan Hinds (Rochester, N.Y./Wilson Magnet), Charles Hawkins (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen), Evan Merkey (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder), and Andrew Barnikel (Commack, N.Y./Commack).

"Fantastic effort to keep our hopes alive," Head Coach Tracy Blake. "The two crosses from Zach [Gloskin] and excellent headers from Saif [Alseyofi] were the difference makers and we are excited to get to our final league game next week. Jon [Nadolne] was huge for us in goal, playing really well since coming back from injury.

Alfred will play in a tune-up of sorts before that crucial St. John Fisher match, hosting Buffalo State College from Yunevich Stadium Tuesday at 7 p.m.