ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College secured a home game in the upcoming Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament by coming back to defeat Utica 2-1 tonight at the ACP Athletic Complex. The Gators (8-6-2/5-3-0 E8), which ended a two-game slide, scored twice in the second half in the home victory.

Shortly before the break, the visiting Pioneers (7-7-1/4-3-1 E8) opened the scoring. Junior forward Byamungu Muhushu weaved his way through the RSC defense, before passing to junior midfielder Cody Baker-Green. His high kick sailed past the leap of junior goalie Tyler Brennan (Albany, NY/Shaker) (Win, 6-6-1) and right under the crossbar.

Senior midfielder/forward John Locicero (Gardiner, NY/Wallkill) knotted things with 30:31 remaining. Midfielder/forward Christian Vålstuen (Lillestrom, Norway/Lambertseter Athletic), a fifth-year senior, fed sophomore defender Mason Kievit (Pleasant Valley, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) sprinting down the right side. The low cross from Kievitt went to Locicero on the left post to one-time into the net.

With 14:18 left, freshman defender/midfielder Dominic Pelella (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill) put the Gators ahead. A bouncing ball caromed through the net-front traffic onto the foot of the rookie to send home. 

RSC kept the Pioneers at bay during the from there, permitting just five shots, only one of which was needed to be saved by Brennan.  He finished with seven stops, while Utica junior goalie Foti Xidias (Loss, 6-7-1) made six saves.

As Saturday's regular season finale approaches, seeding for the E8 playoffs is still being finalized. RSC, guaranteed to finish in the top-four, plays at Medaille that afternoon at 3:00 pm.

Notes: The Gators will be making their fourth appearance in the E8 Championship Tournament next week…RSC, which got off to its best-ever start in E8 play at 3-0-0, equaled a program record for E8 victories tonight…The fall marked the first season with Amir Pasic at the helm of the Gators...He picked up his first career win on Thursday, September 1 at Castleton...17 players returned to the team...Junior defender/midfielder Ian Maguire (Dunstable, MA/Groton Dunstable Regional) and midfielder/forward Christian Vålstuen (Lillestrom, Norway/Lambertseter Athletic), a fifth-year senior, were voted co-captains… Vålstuen ranks in the top-ten in program records for career goals, career points, and career assists.

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