HOUGHTON, NY—Two early goals doomed the Houghton College men's soccer team (5-5-2, 2-1-1 Empire 8) as they fell to the Ithaca College Bombers, 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
In the 10
th minute of the game, Ithaca's Brandon Thompson broke free from his defender and headed for a one-on-one with Houghton keeper
Jacob Dunnett (Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Kennebecasis). Thompson pushed the ball right and Dunnett lunged, getting the ball but also clipping Thompson, who was awarded a penalty kick.
Despite Dunnett's and the Highlanders protests on the call, the Bombers received the penalty and Sam Boylan went left as Dunnett dove right, giving Ithaca the eventual game-winner.
Less than six minutes later Thompson again broke free on a pass from Matt Bukowski, utilizing his speed to beat his defender around the right end line and sliding the ball past the keeper from short range.
While the Highlanders tightened the ship after the second goal, they were unable to put anything past Bombers' keeper Zach Jacobsen.
Both Jacobsen and Dunnett gave the crowd multiple displays of expert shot-stopping with plenty of diving and sliding saves throughout the remainder of the game. Dunnett finished the game with seven saves, while Jacobsen collected five in the shutout.
The Highlanders play again on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. when they take on Alfred State College in a non-conference matchup on Burke Field.
