HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Houghton moved one step closer to earning a spot in the Empire 8 postseason after a 2-1 home win over Alfred on Saturday.

It was Houghton's fifth-straight win and moved them to 9-5-2 (3-2-2 E8) on the season. Alfred fell to 1-13-2 (0-6-1).

The Highlanders dominated play, finishing with a 32-2 advantage in shots, but had trouble finding a way past Saxon keeper Sammy Jo Shanahan.

Houghton took 13 shots in the first half, but Shanahan stopped eight of the shots on goal, including a screaming long-range attempt by Bailey Shattell (Syracuse, NY, Faith Heritage) that the keeper was able to tip over the bar. Another strong Houghton attempt by Emma Webb (Houghton, NY, Fillmore Central) was played off the crossbar and Shanahan was able to gather in the rebound.

The Highlanders finally got on the board in the 52nd minute when Jennifer Zacchigna (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora) got her head on a perfectly placed corner kick from Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian) and put the ball into the net from five yards away. Just three minutes later, Gabriele made it 2-0, taking a cross from Darlene Eckhardt (Eden, NY, Eden) and one-timing a low shot past Shanahan.

Houghton kept up the pressure, but it was the Saxons who would get the next goal. A handball just inside the box gave the visitors a penalty kick, and Emily Wright converted from the spot on a shot low and to the right past Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central).

Meagan Barry (Amherst, NY, Williamsville North) almost made it 3-1, but her hard long shot from outside the box caromed off the crossbar.

With the win, the Highlanders are now tied with Hartwick for the fourth and final spot in the Empire 8 Tournament. Each team has one conference game remaining. The Highlanders take on St. John Fisher on Saturday, Oct. 21, while the Hawks battle first place Stevens to close the season.