HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Houghton women's soccer slipped below .500 for the season after a 3-1 Empire 8 home loss to Stevens Tech on Saturday.

Stevens (8-4; 3-1) jumped ahead 1-0 in the 24th minute, but Tahsha Keith (Tuxedo, NY, Hawthorne Christian) sent Stephany Ellison (Whitesville, NY, Whitesville Central) on a run up the middle of the field and the senior made no mistake with her 1 v 1 with the Ducks' keeper, slotting a low ball home in the 39th minute for her team-leading 12th goal of the campaign.

The score would remain tied at the half, with the Ducks holding an 11-9 shots advantage. Six of Stevens' shots came over a five-minute span, with the sixth resulting in the visitor's goal.

The Ducks continued to control the pace of play in the second half and broke through with two goals just 1:30 apart 15 minutes into the second half. Houghton put some pressure on the Ducks as the half progressed but couldn't get any closer.

Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central) made nine stops in net as the Ducks put 12 of their 23 shots on frame. Houghton had 14 shots on the afternoon, including 10 on net.

The Highlanders (5-6; 1-4) return to action at home Monday vs. Utica College at 5 p.m.