ROCHESTER, NY—With a trip to the post-season on the line, the Houghton College Highlanders women's soccer team punched their ticket Saturday afternoon, posting their sixth consecutive victory, 2-0, over St. John Fisher College Cardinals Saturday afternoon. 
 
The win was the fifth shutout over the six-game span for the Highlanders (ninth of the season), bringing their record to 10-5-2, 4-2-2 in the Empire 8.  The Cardinals finish their season at 5-12-1, 2-6-0 in the Empire 8.
 
The Highlanders controlled much of the play during the first half, outshooting the Cardinals 11-2, including all of the game's first 10 shots.  They would finally reach pay dirt in the 30^th minute when Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian) added to her team-leading points total, ripping a shot from 20 yards out past the diving keeper for seventh goal of the season.
 
Houghton struck again shortly into the second half when Jennifer Zacchigna (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora) fed Jessica Beattie (Maitland, Ontario, St. Mary's) past the last line of defense for a breakaway with the keeper.  Beattie finished the play for her third goal of the season.
 
On the day the Highlanders held advantages in shots (17-5), shots on goal (5-2) and corner kicks (5-1). 
 
Goalkeeper Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central) made saves on both shot opportunities she faced in the shutout.
 
Today's victory, paired with a 2-5 Hartwick College loss to Stevens Tech, places Houghton as the #4 seed in next weekend's Empire 8 conference tournament at Stevens. 
 
The Highlanders will take on the host Ducks at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6^th.  Stevens defeated Houghton earlier this year, 2-0 at home.
 
For more information on this year's Empire 8 women's soccer tournament please visit: http://empire8.com/news/2015/10/29/WSOC_1029152919.aspx