Category: Utica Sports

Halloween Flashback

Basketball is right around the corner and so is Halloween. The Utica college men’s basketball team started practice on October 15 and will be kicking off their season against SUNY Cortland at home on November 14. Ivan Iton is one of the team captains and below is a brief bio on him as well as a question and answer, Halloween style…

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Name: Ivan Iton

Position: Power Forward

Class: Sophomore

Studies: Biology

Number: #22

How do you feel about Halloween? I like it, I feel it’s a time for the kids to have fun and get candy, everyone loves candy.

Do you remember your first time Trick or Treating? I’m not sure I remember my first time ever, but I do remember going when I was about 9 or so, I was a blue power ranger.

Do you still go Trick or Treating? No, I wish though, I may step out this Halloween as a professional basketball player or something.

What’s your favorite Halloween movie? I would have to say any movie of the Halloween series with Michael Myers, those are crazy and scary, but I love them.

What is one memory that you will never forget about Halloween? When I was young I went trick or treating and it was this huge white house. The owner had dug up a ditch in the front yard and covered it with leaves. So, when I walked forward to knock, a person rose up from the ditch and jumped out at all the kids, I almost peed my pants. I would say that memory is the craziest, ever!

 

 

 

A Talk With Greg Palmer And Coach Murphy

The Utica College Pioneers have had a successful season thus far, but still have plenty of games left to prove they are the best football team in the Empire 8 conference.

Take a look at a question and answer video chat with senior captain, Greg Palmer and coach James Murphy about this years team.

Empire 8 Leaders

E8 - LARGEThe Empire 8 is an NCAA division III sports conference. It has been serving its membership in various forms for over 40 years, the members of the Empire 8 are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and aspire to be regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference.

The conference consists of nine football teams, Buffalo State, Morrisville State, Alfred, Hartwick, Cortland, Utica, Ithaca, Brockport, and St. John Fisher. It’s a very competitive conference and the teams fight to come out on top. The 2015 season has so far been a good one, SUNY Cortland is currently leading with a 5-1 record while Utica is right behind sitting at 4-2.

Below is a graph that break down the team’s standings which you can compare and contrast the best from the worst. It is a great visual which you can see each team’s statistics this year, rushing, passing, interceptions, sacks, and more.  See graph here.

 

Empire 8 leaders | Creahere.

Utica vs Brockport

On October 10th, the Utica College Pioneers will be taking on the College at Brockport. The game will be at 7 at Brockport, NY. The Pioneers have been doing well, sitting at a 3-2 record. Both losses were on the road, heading to ADA, OH to face Ohio Northern University and Cortland, NY to face SUNY Cortland. Brockport is currently 3-1, their only loss was to St. John Fisher 41-42 in an OT nail bitter.

Utica College is coming off a big homecoming victory, winning in overtime against the Ithaca Bombers. The game ended with Utica’s Teddy VanGalen connecting with Jerred Beniquez on a 25 yard touchdown making it a 30-27. VanGalen finished the game completing 18 of 30 passes with 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Brockport’s last matchup ended in a win as they steamrolled past Alfred State 59-7. Dan Andrews, Brockport’s starting running back, finished the game with 21 carries for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

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The last time these two teams faced, Utica College came out on top 41-28. Their top performers were Anthony Acevedo who caught 12 passes for 199 yards and Jesse Baldassare who finished with 24 carries on 151 yards and three touchdowns. Both star athletes have graduated, so this game can go either way.

Both teams are looking similar so far this year and the records are almost the same with Utica playing only one more game than Brockport. Who take home the victory this year? Place your vote here or comment https://uticaentertainment.com/

Did You Catch That?

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The Utica College Pioneers won an overtime thriller against the nationally ranked Ithaca College Bombers on Saturday, Oct. 3rd, 2015.

The game ended with a pass to junior Jared Beniquez, but that is not the play getting the most coverage. A wild controversial play in the first half has the attention of many local and national sports fans.

The play has been seen on numerous sports pages and websites, and also made national television, as it was shown on ESPN.

If you have not seen this wild play, here it is.

Was this a catch, an interception, an incomplete pass? Leave a comment below, give us your take on what you think this wild play should have been ruled as.