UTICA, N.Y. -- After a scoreless first half, Houghton and SUNY Poly women's soccer combined for three goals over the final 35 minutes, with Houghton scoring twice and gaining the 2-1 win over the Wildcats.

The win moves Houghton's conference record to 4-3-1 and puts the Highlanders into a 4th place tie with Sage in the conference standings with 13 points. Nazareth sits in the 6th spot with 11 points but plays Utica later Saturday. The E8 tournament will feature the top-8 teams.

GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton 2 | SUNY Poly 1
Location: Utica, N.Y. | Wildcat Field
Attendance: 88
Records: Houghton 7-6-2 (4-3-1 E8) | SUNY Poly 4-8-1 (0-7-1 E8)

DETAILS
>> Houghton outshot SUNY Poly 13-5 in the first half, including putting five shots on goal, but they had no goals to show for it after the first 45 minutes.
>> It took another 10 minutes into the second half before the Highlanders finally hit paydirt when Taylor Curyto registered a goal off an assist from Morgan Applegate in the 55th minute.
>> The lead didn't last, however, as the hosts evened the score at one in the 63rd minute.
>> Houghton found the game-winner in the 70th minute thanks to Elena Esh, who scored her sixth goal of the season off an assist from Karryne Mims

NOTABLE STATS
>> The final shots statistics were in favor of Houghton, 26-10. Shots on goal were 14-5 for the Highlanders.
>> Houghton also claimed a 9-4 advantage in corners.
>> Preslee Miller stopped four shots in the start in net.
>> Mims led the team with six shots (four on net), while Rileigh Studley contributed four shots.
>> This was the first meeting between the two sides as SUNY Poly is in its first season as a member of the Empire 8.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders host Geneseo on Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. on Burke Field.