HOUGHTON, NY – Sydney Gagnon scored four goals for the visiting Hartwick Hawks as they defeated the Houghton Highlanders in a battle between the teams with the best conference records in the Empire 8, 5-2. 
 
After Hartwick scored the opening goal in the fourth minute, Houghton answered just under seven minutes later.  Elzandie Du Plessis inserted a corner to Deborah Cross, who found Cedar Smith for the tying goal.
 
The Hawks, however, would respond with four unanswered goals over the remainder of the game. 
 
In a game played at a frenetic pace, the Hawks outshot the Highlanders, 36-7, and racked up 27 total corners, to Houghton's two.
 
The Hawks victory keeps them undefeated in conference play with one game remaining on their conference schedule.  Houghton has already secured a place in the playoffs, but their seeding will be dictated by their final two conference games against Medaille and Washington & Jefferson.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 1 | Hartwick – 5
Records: Houghton: 10-5 (5-2 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 9-5 (8-0 Empire 8)
Venue: Burk Field, Houghton University | Attendance: 105

SCORING SUMMARY

3:21		Sydney Gagnon (11) Assisted By: Leah Tolley
10:38		Cedar Smith (3) Assisted By: Deborah Cross
11:43		Sydney Gagnon (12)
22:55		Sydney Gagnon (13) Assisted By: Holly Calore
32:47		Lex Matarazzo (11) Assisted By: Holly Calore
45:43		Sydney Gagnon (13) Assisted By: Lex Matarazzo

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton goalie Madison Tadusz recorded a career-high 18 saves, while Hartwick goalie Madison Maddocks stopped five shots.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to Burke Field on Wednesday, October 26 for another Empire 8 matchup with the Medaille Mavericks at 3:00 p.m.