Utica, NY—Russell Sage College's men's soccer team travelled to Utica College on Monday afternoon for an Empire 8 match-up with the Pioneers. Senior captain Jeaneste Pierre (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) scored twice to lift the Gators to the win as they stand at 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8 on this season.

Pierre, who was the team's leading scorer a year ago as the Gators earned a spot in the 2019 Empire 8 Tournament, now has two goals on the season, elevating his career resume in the process. Pierre has three career-game winning goals to go with his 25 career points. He ranks ninth in career points, tied with Alax Lanza (2013-2016) on 11 goals with three assists. He is also seventh in career goals at Sage.

Pierre put the Gators on the scoreboard first with an unassisted goal at the 39:13 mark. He gave the team a 2-0 lead as he scored on a feed from rookie Sergio Ventura (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) and senior defender Nathan Ficht (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) at 73:31. Utica pulled within one goal as Sory Konate scored on a scramble in the front of the box at 81:22.

Rookie keeper Anthony Molina (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) earned the win and is now 2-0 in goal after yielding just one goal in 90 minutes of work.

The Gators are back in action on April 2 travelling to St. John Fisher College for a 3 p.m. Empire 8 contest.