ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University men's soccer team celebrated its five seniors in fashion with a 2-0 win over visiting Utica University on Saturday evening from Yunevich Stadium.
 
The Saxons (5-6-4, 2-3-2 Empire 8) shut down the Pioneers (4-8-3, 2-3-2 Empire 8) right after celebrating the careers of Daniel Koenig (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay), Jaime Soria (Ossining, NY/Ossining), Sai Baraka (Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney), Chase Freeland (Hornell, NY/Hornell) and Adam Enders (Belfast, NY/Belfast) in pregame ceremonies. The ceremony was capped off with Freeland walking out with his mother and father and a surprise guest, his sister, Chelsea who made the trip home from her stationed base in Minot, ND as an active member of the United States Airforce.
 
Both goals were scored in the first half, with both being from Freeland and they were the only two shots on goal for the Saxons. Just eight minutes into play, Freeland received a ball from William Moore (Stormville, NY/John Jay), just outside of the 18-yard box, shot it low and fast to the bottom left corner of the net, just outside of the reach of the Pioneer keeper. Freeland tacked on another goal just 11 minutes later as he volleyed a ball from 43 yards out up and over the reach of the Pioneer goalie.
 
"Great results for us today, two goals from Chase on Senior Day were special, especially the second one," Head Coach Tracy Blake said. "Utica came at us strong in the second half, however we worked very hard for the win. Ozzie in goal was a spectacular again. We need this effort again on Wednesday at Elmira."
 
Utica held an advantage in shots, outshooting the Saxons, 23-5 as AU only had one shot in the second half. Out of those 23 shots by the Pioneers, eight of them were on goal where Matthew Osmundson (Draper, UT/Juan Diego Catholic) kept each shot from getting past him in net.
 
Both teams tied in fouls, 13-13 with only one yellow card being issued to a Utica player. The Pioneers held the advantage in corner kicks, taking eight of them while AU had only two opportunities throughout the 90 minutes.
 
The Saxons will next close out their regular season with a trip to Elmira College on Wednesday, October 25 for a 3:00pm Empire 8 game.