Utica, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men's soccer team opened the 2019 Utica College Tournament in style on Saturday afternoon by posting a 2-0 upset victory over the Hawks of SUNY New Paltz at Utica College's Charles M. Gaetano Stadium. With the victory the Fighting Tigers improve to 2-1 overall on the campaign while the Hawks fall to 2-1 on the season to date.

Cobleskill senior forward Mame Amar, Manhattan, N.Y., Liberty High School, served notice on the Hawks in the 23^rd minute of play hitting the eventual game winner in the box from close range. The Fighting Tigers then put the game away in the second half when sophomore forward Chris Gardener, Hudson, N.Y., Hudson High School, scored on a long cross weakside from Mame Amar in the 85^th minute to decide the issue.

Defensively the Orange & Black were extremely stingy to their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponents allowing them only five shots on the afternoon two of which were saved by freshman goalie Rashawn Best, Brooklyn, N.Y., Martin Luther King High School, to record his first career shutout victory.

The Fighting Tigers will return to Utica on Sunday to face the host Pioneers of Utica College in their tournament finale at Charles M. Gaetano Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 p.m.