HOUGHTON, NY – The Houghton Highlanders kicked off the conference schedule with a 3-0 win over the Elmira Soaring Eagles on Saturday afternoon.
Gabe VanWyk opened the scoring for the Highlanders in the 19
th minute when
Andrew Bussey found him on the right flank, settled himself and drove a perfectly placed shot past a diving keeper into the lower-left netting.
Bussey picked up another assist less than two minutes before the half, this time finding
Aldo Rico's run out of the backfield to put the Highlanders up, 2-0, heading into the break.
Houghton would add a third goal midway through the second half when
Ben Lawrence drove a free kick from the midline into the box.
Kenneth Estep flicked the ball on to
Ben DiCrasto, who quickly deposited the ball into the back of the net.
Houghton keeper,
Bryson Robinson, picked up his first collegiate win, stopping the only shot the Soaring Eagles placed on net.
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 3 | Elmira – 0
Records: Houghton: 3-3 | Elmira: 1-5
Venue: Burke Field, Houghton College | Attendance: 135
SCORING SUMMARY
NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton owned the majority of possession and outshot Elmira, 18-2. The Highlanders also outpaced the Soaring Eagles in corner kick opportunities, 4-0.
>> Rico not only posted his first goal as a Highlander, he did so in the first game he has entered.
>> VanWyk now leads the Highlanders with nine points (three goals and three assists) on the year.
COACH'S CORNER
"Getting our first shutout of the year today was big for us. I was proud of our guys for managing and controlling the flow of the game. We limited their chances and, after settling in to the game, moved the ball well.
"It was a good start to conference play." –Head Coach
Matthew Webb
UP NEXT
Houghton will host the RIT Tigers on Tuesday night in a non-conference matchup on Burke Field at 7:00 p.m.
