The Houghton College men's soccer team (9-6-2, 4-2-1 Empire 8) clinched the #3 seed in next weekend's Empire 8 tournament with a 4-1 victory over the Utica College Pioneers (5-13, 1-6 Empire 8) Saturday on Burke Field. 
 
Four different Highlanders scored goals on the afternoon, including goalkeeper-turned-forward Ben Moritz (Water Mill, NY, Southampton), who scored his first career goal in his final regular season home game as a Highlander. 
 
The Highlanders cracked open the scoring in the ninth minute when Nic Loew (Center Valley, PA, Southern Lehigh) crossed a ball into the right side of the Utica box where Andrew Bussey (Leicester, England, Rosslyn Academy) ripped an unbelievable side volley from 15 yards out into the upper-left side netting to put the Highlanders on top.
 
The Pioneers, however, would fight back on the big right foot of their all-time points leader, Shane Ruffing.
 
With just less than six minutes remaining in the first half, Ruffing received a ball in the midfield, dribbled to beat a pair of defenders then surprised the defense by cracking a shot from nearly 30 yards out past the diving keeper into the lower far-post netting.
 
The two teams battled back-and-forth early in the second half until the 65^th minute when the Highlanders executed a beautiful build-up down the right side of the field, stringing together multiple passes.  To complete the play, Mitch Beattie (Maitland, Ontario, St. Mary Catholic) played a ball to Tyler Ashley (Landisville, PA, Hempfield) from the outside, Ashley one-touched the ball between two defenders into the box where a streaking Beattie finished the play to regain the lead.

Beattie, who played primarly as a defender for most of the season had not scored a goal through the first 14 games of the season.  Since moving into a more attacking position he has now tallied four times in the past three games, including two game-winners.
 
Less than 10 minutes later Ben Lawrence (Marlborough, CT, RHAM High School) beat his defender on the left wing into the box and was subsequently blindsided by a second defender.  The defender was issued a yellow card and Lawrence was awarded a penalty kick, which he finished with a low, hard strike into the left side-netting to give the Highlanders a 3-1 lead.
 
The final goal of the day for the Highlanders was perhaps the most exciting for the Houghton faithful.  After spending the first three-and-a-half years of his career as a backup goalkeeper, Moritz transitioned to the field midway through the season and has quickly become a fan favorite. 
 
With fresh legs Mortiz entered the game in the 76^th minute and it didn't take him long to make his presence known.  Lawrence beat his defender around the left end-line then slid a ball to Moritz inside the box.
 
Moritz took a touch to his right then punched home the goal inside the right post.
 
"We played really well today," said head coach Matthew Webb.  "But the highlight of the day for me was [Moritz's] goal."
 
The Highlanders seem to have hit their offensive stride, scoring nine goals in their past two games. 
 
Houghton will now advance to the semifinal round of the Empire 8 tournament on Friday at Ithaca College.  The Highlanders will square off against #2 seed Stevens Institute of Technology at 2:00 p.m.  The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in their only matchup earlier this season.

For more tournament information please visit: http://empire8.com/news/2015/10/29/MSOC_1029153319.aspx