The Alfred Cup, a competition between Alfred State and Alfred University athletic teams, debuts on Friday (Aug. 29) when the men’s soccer teams meet at Pioneer Stadium. The game will be one of four battles between the two schools that are separated by a stoplight this fall.
Friday’s contest begins at 7 p.m. and is the season opener for both teams. The game is also the first for Vince Correa as the head coach of the Pioneers. The Pioneers and Saxons have only played once before, with ASC earning a 2-1 victory in 2023.
The Pioneers women’s soccer team will travel to Yunevich Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 10 for a 7:30 p.m. contest for the next Alfred Cup contest. AU won the only previous meeting last year, 2-0.
The cross country teams will compete versus each other at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20 in Rochester for their Alfred Cup competition.
The volleyball team’s battle is on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. in the Orvis Gymnasium. ASC defeated AU, 3-0, in the only time they met in 2022.
The final contest of the fall will feature the football teams tangling in an Empire 8 match-up on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium. This will be the first meeting between the first teams.
Sponsored by ServU Federal Credit Union and Power and Construction Group, Inc., the Alfred Cup was announced this spring prior to the end of the school year. A point-based system has been developed and a trophy featuring the stoplight that separates the two colleges will be awarded in May of each school year.
At the press conference to announce the competition, Alfred State athletic director Jason Doviak expressed that these events are much more than a competition. “The Alfred Cup is an opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of our community where two NCAA Division III Institutions sit across the street from one another. This competition will bring out the best among our student-athletes and create lasting moments for our campuses, community, and fans.”
Current students, alumni from both institutions, and community members are encouraged to attend Alfred Cup competitions on both campuses.
The Alfred Cup will continue throughout the school year with competitions in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, and men’s and women’s track & field.
