HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The 2018 season came to a close for Houghton men's soccer with a 3-2 loss to NCAA Division II Nyack College on Tuesday at Burke Field.

The night also marked the final game at the helm for Head Coach Matthew Webb, who switched up his lineup to give several players their first chances at extended minutes. That new starting lineup held its own and pressured the Warriors defense to create a few scoring opportunities early. Nathaniel Zedomi made a run on the right midway through the half, but his cross in front of the net was push just wide. The payoff came in the 14th minute when Caleb Kaiss found the ball at his feet 40 yards out, dribbled toward goal, found himself one on one with the keeper, and sent a low 25 yard shot just inside the right post.

The Warriors answered with goals in the 22nd and 29th minutes to take a 2-1 lead into the locker room, and then tallied their third of the night in the 69th minute. Houghton responded with increased pressure in the attacking third and just missed on several scoring chances. The best opportunity was a header off the post by Ben Lawrence. The senior made no mistake with his next chance, stealing a pass back to the keeper and sending a low shot just inside the right post to pull the Highlanders to within a goal. Lawrence almost found the equalizer minutes later, sending another header of the post after a perfectly placed cross from Andy Bussey.

As the clocked ticked away, Houghton made one final push, but Bussey's blistering shot from 20 yards out just missed to the right with under a minute to go.

GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 2 | Nyack – 3
Records: Houghton: 6-12 | Nyack: 2-15-1
Venue: Burke Field, Houghton College | Attendance: 35

SCORING SUMMARY

13:33		Caleb Kaiss (1)  *1v1 With Keeper, Low Shot From 25 Yards
21:23		Alex Garcia (3)  Assisted By: Nicholas Scarafile  *Cross And Redirect From 5 Yards
28:16		Mitchell Reed (5)  Assisted By: Lucas Honorio  *
68:27		Daniel Larson (4)  Assisted By: Vitor Cositorto  *6 Yard Header Off Corner
78:16		Ben Lawrence (5)

NOTABLE STATS
>> Lawrence finished the season with five goal, all coming over the final four games of the season. He closes his career with 26 goals.
>> Jeff Fox made is first ever start and finished with six saves.
>> Kaiss's goal was the second of his career.
>> Shots were even at 14 apiece