CANTON, NY—The Houghton women's soccer team took advantage of an early penalty kick and a red card that left SUNY Canton down a player en route to a 4-0 lightning-shortened victory.
 
The Highlanders (6-5-2) controlled the first half, outshooting the Roos (6-5-2) 9-0.
 
Houghton grabbed the early lead after Canton was whistled for a foul in the box and Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian) finished the ensuing penalty kick for her fifth goal of the season.
 
Perhaps the tipping point of the match, though, came seconds before the close of the first half.  SUNY Canton received its third yellow card of the game and second on the same player, resulting in an automatic red card and player ejection, meaning the Roos would play the remainder of the game with only 10 players.
 
The Roos would also receive a team red card related to the ejection.
 
The Highlanders took little time capitalizing on the player advantage, scoring just 1:36 into the second half off a set piece.  Gabriele took the corner kick from the far side of the field and found Bailey Shattell (Syracuse, NY, Faith Heritage) eight yards out who redirected a header into the upper left corner.
 
Less than 10 minutes later Houghton tacked on a third goal when Shattell played a beautiful cross from the right side to Jennifer Zacchigna (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora) at the far post who finished into the lower right corner.

The final goal came just past the 71^st minute.  Brielle Kwarta (Pittsford, NY, Pittsford Sutherland) found the feet of Torri Sperl (Saugerties, NY, Saugerties) who ripped a shot from 26 yards out into the top left corner for her first goal as a Highlander.

Less than a minute later a visible lightning strike sent both teams to their respective benches and officials decided that since the teams had completed at least 70 minutes of play, per NCAA rules, the game would be declared officially complete. 

Canton keeper Kelsi Gilbert made four saves in net for the Roos, while Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central), who played the first 69:19 in net for the Highlanders, earned her sixth shutout of the season without facing a shot on goal.
 
The Highlanders return to action on Saturday, October 17 when they travel to Utica College to take on the Pioneers in an Empire 8 showdown at 4:00 p.m.