UTICA, N.Y. – The Maritime Men's Soccer team needed overtime for the second-straight contest and emerged victorious once again as the Privateers defeated the host Utica Pioneers in their opening matchup of the Pioneer Invitational by the score of 2-1.
 
Senior Matthew Pavek (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) tallied the game-winning goal just 2:11 into the extra session, off a tip pass from junior Harry Colucci (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Earl L. Vandenmeulen) as freshman Nicholas Ciacca (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) sent the ball into the box on a corner kick.
 
Earlier in the game, junior Matt Smith (Brightwaters, N.Y./Bay Shore) picked up his first goal of the season to put the Privateers ahead by a 1-0 score.
 
In goal, freshman Michael Rodriguez (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) made eight saves as he collected his second-straight victory in extra time.
 
The Privateers controlled much of the play in the early going as Colucci took a shot in the fifth minute of play that was stopped by the Pioneer goalkeeper. Senior Kevin Ferreira (Centereach, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and sophomore Parker Gallt (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) registered back-to-back shots in the 15th minute, but with no success.
 
As play progressed, Maritime was awarded a free kick and it was Smith to take the chance. Smith's kick was sent towards the target, and deflected off a defender in front before getting across the goal line to put the Privateers ahead by a 1-0 score.
 
The lone goal stood for the remainder of the opening half, as Maritime continued to keep up the pressure and outshot their hosts by a 7-5 margin through the opening 45 minutes.
 
In the second half, Utica evened the score at one in the 65th minute as the Pioneers caught a lucky bounce off the crossbar that dropped into the net off a shot from distance.
 
Both teams had their share of chances through the waning minutes of the second half. Stats in the second stanza saw the Pioneers outshoot Maritime by an 11-3 mark for a 90-minute total of 18-9 in shots in favor of the home team.
 
It didn't take long in the extra session for Maritime to get their first chance as a long throw in from near the corner flag was headed by the defense off the end line to set up a corner kick for Ciacca.
 
As the ball was sent into the box, it rattled around as Colucci headed the ball towards the far post. The clear attempt was missed by the Pioneer defense as Pavek knocked the ball into the net for the game-winning overtime tally.
 
Maritime (3-1) will look to make it a weekend sweep as the Privateers will take on Skidmore at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium.
Utica (0-3) will battle Baruch at 11:30 a.m. in their final matchup of the Pioneer invitational.