Houghton, NY – The Houghton Highlanders concluded their season on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Empire 8 neighbor, Alfred University. The team entered their final game of the season needing to get a win, and they needed Elmira to upset Utica to earn a spot in the conference tournament. The Highlanders held up their end of the deal, but Utica's 4-1 victory over Elmira left the Highlands outside of the top-four in the conference standings.
The Highlanders brought a high level of senior-day intensity and set the tone early in the game as
Sierra Neddo fired the first shot on net in the second minute of play. Neddo's shot was saved by the Saxon keeper.
The bulk of the first half consisted of back-and-forth action in the middle third of the field as neither team found many opportunities to attack the net.
In the 19
th minute, the Highlanders got on a breakaway which led to a Saxon foul inside the box. Senior
Lauren Couturier took the penalty kick for Houghton, but banked the shot off the right post. The ball ricocheted straight back to her for an opportunity to fire at the net. She buried the shot, but the score was called off due to the Highlanders entering the play too early.
Senior goalkeeper,
Rachael Fortney kept the net safe for the duration of the first half as the teams went into halftime with no scores on the board for either side.
In the 50
th minute, freshman
Mary Doell found an opportunity to attack for the Highlanders, but her shot drilled the post.
The game went back and forth with each team trying to piece together runs towards the net for the next 30 minutes before Doell fielded a
Moriah Steffen pass and sent one sailing past the Saxon keeper for her fourth goal in the past two games.
The Highlanders endured several offensive attacks from the Saxons in the final 10 minutes of play to preserve their 1-0 victory at the end of regulation.
The Highlanders finished the season with an 8-7-2 record overall and 3-3-1 record in Empire 8 play in their first season under the leadership of head coach
Nikki Elsaesser.
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 1 | Alfred University – 0
Records: Houghton: 8-7-2 | Alfred University: 8-6-4
Venue: Burke Field | Attendance: 133
SCORING SUMMARY
NOTABLE STATS
>>Alfred out-shot Houghton 8-7 in the contest.
>>
Moriah Steffen's assist today gave her three overall which ties her for the most on the team this season.
>>Highlander Keeper,
Rachael Fortney recorded four saves on the day while recording her third straight shutout in goal.
>>The Highlanders finished the season on a four-game winning streak and posted the first winning season for the program since 2016.
COACH'S CORNER
"I am so proud of this crew. It was a good way to cap off a thoroughly enjoyable season. I want to give a special shout out to the seniors, Lauren, McKenzie, Rachael, and Dani. They led this team well and closed out great careers with this win today! A complete team effort like this does the heart good. We are all able to recognize the exponential improvement from the beginning of the season to now. We are eager to keep this momentum as we prepare in the off season!" -Coach
Nikki Elsaesser
