CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally 10th-ranked Cortland men's soccer team scored three first-half goals in defeating Utica University, 3-0, Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Holloway Field. The Red Dragons won their fourth consecutive game, improving to 4-1 on the season, while the Pioneers had their record level out at 2-2.

Junior Yasin Choukri (Wilton, CT) tallied his second and third goals of the season for Cortland. Junior Matt Shultz (Oneonta) picked up his team-high fourth goal. Senior Matias Valenzuela Matic (Santiago, Chile/Northwood School) and sophomore Josh Carroll (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) each collected an assist.

Sophomore goalie Jordan Ott (Fort Worth, TX/Southwest Christian) registered one first-half save in recording his second shutout of the season for the Red Dragons. Senior goalie Foti Xidias (Carteret, NJ) made three saves in 86:55 for Utica before leaving with an injury. Senior Eduardo Paez (Eastchester) played the final 3:05 and did not face a shot.

Despite Cortland controlling much of the play, the best early chance came from Utica. Senior Byam Mugushu (Syracuse/Bishop Grimes) gained possession outside of the box on the left side and bent a sharply struck shot from 30 yards out that was labeled for the upper right corner. Ott was forced to make a leaping save, knocking the ball over the crossbar to hold the score at 0-0.

Less than four minutes later, Shultz put the Red Dragons up 1-0. Matic chipped a through ball forward to Shultz, who outran two defenders and finished off a partial breakaway with a shot inside the right post from the left side of the box. The 1-0 score held until late in the first half before Choukri struck twice less than three minutes apart. In the 41st minute, Carroll blasted a shot off the right post, and Choukri deposited the rebound from deep in the box. He then converted a penalty kick in the 44th minute after he was dragged down just inside the box to make it a 3-0 score.

The second half featured limited action as Cortland liberally subbed players. The Red Dragons held a 6-0 shot advantage with no attempts ending up on goal. The only drama of the last 45 minutes included three combined yellow cards for both teams and a red card for a Utica player, forcing the Pioneers to play the final 14:17 a man down.

Cortland 3, Utica 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Utica: no scoring
Cortland: Yasin Choukri 2-0, Matt Shultz 1-0, Matias Valenzuela Matic 0-1, Josh Carroll 0-1

Halftime: Cortland 3, Utica 0
Shots: Cortland 19, Utica 2
Corner Kicks: Cortland 7, Utica 3
Fouls: Utica 17, Cortland 14
Saves: Foti Xidias (Utica) 3 saves (3 GA in 86:55), Eduardo Paez (Utica) 0 saves (0 GA in 3:05; Jordan Ott (Cortland) 1 save (0 GA in 90:00)

Record after game: Utica (Pioneers) 2-2; Cortland (Red Dragons) 4-1 (ranked 10th nationally in Div. III)