HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Houghton women's lacrosse won their second-straight contest, 11-9 over Elmira College at home on Saturday.
The win was Houghton's first official victory in Empire 8 play, as the Highlanders are now eligible for E8 postseason play for the first year.
After giving up a goal to the Soaring Eagles in the game's first 21 seconds, Houghton responded with three-straight tallies to take a 3-1 lead with 21:36 left.
Tyler Reese (Kennett Square, PA, Unionville),
Chandler Jones (Collegeville, PA, Spring-Ford) and
Elizabeth Westwood (Saugerties, NY, Saugerties) were credited with the scores. Another Elmira goal was followed by a score from
Jennifer Zacchigna (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora), but the Soaring Eagles scored two-straight to edge ahead, 6-5. Houghton would score three of the final four goals of the half to take an 8-7 lead into the break.
Meghan Oswald (Penn Yan, NY, Marcus Whitman) scored once and
Alyssa Strom (Tonawanda, NY, Sweet Home) scored twice for the Highlanders.
The second half was a defensive battle with scoring goals coming few and far between. Tyler Reese got a man-up tally with just under four minutes gone to give the Highlanders a two-goal cushion. And after an Elmira goal trimmed the deficit back to one, Reese and Zacchigna gave Houghton some breathing room with 9:40 left. The Highlanders were able to gain possession and ran more than three minutes off the clock before Elmira was able to force a turnover. Houghton withstood two solid scoring chances in the closing minutes, included a shot off the post, before giving up one final goal with 1:01 to go. One final shot from the Soaring Eagles was turned away by Houghton keeper
Alyssa Strom (Tonawanda, NY, Sweet Home) in the final minute.
Zacchigna and Reese each tallied hat tricks, with Strom scoring twice and Westwood getting two goals and two assists.
Franklin stopped 10 shots in net.
Houghton had a 28-27 edge in shots and had 27 ground balls to 20 for Elmira. Draw controls were in favor of Elmira, 12-10.
Houghton (2-3) is back in action on Wednesday, March 25 when they host Wells College at 7 p.m.
