HOUGHTON, NY – Michaela Cushman broke a 2-2 tie in the 55
th minute of the game, her second goal of the night, as the Nazareth Golden Flyers stunned the Houghton Highlanders on their home turf, 3-2.
The Golden Flyers blitzed the Highlanders early, outshooting the home team, 6-3, in the opening quarter. Madison Chodkowski put Nazareth on the board first in only the second minute of the game.
Houghton tied the score just under six minutes later on a goal by
Cate Westenberger, but went up again 46 seconds after, giving the Golden Flyers a 2-1 lead, which they maintained until the fourth quarter.
Only 34 seconds into the final period the Highlanders found the equalizer off the stick of
Bekah Davie, but after multiple threatening but unsuccessful advances on the Nazareth cage, Cushman scored on a counter, putting the Golden Flyers up for good.
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 2 | Nazareth – 3
Records: Houghton: 5-3 (0-2 Empire 8) | Nazareth: 2-4 (1-1 Empire 8)
Venue: Burke Field, Houghton University | Attendance: 75
SCORING SUMMARY
NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton maintained advantages in both shots (17-9) and corners (11-5).
>> Davie's goal is her sixth of the season. She currently leads the team with 13 points, and remains the second all-time leading scorer in Houghton history with 108 career points.
>>
Deborah Cross picked up her third assist of the season on Davie's goal, giving her 81 career points and moving her past Rochelle Hershey (1999-2002) for sole possession of 10
th place on the all-time leader board.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will travel to SUNY Brockport this Saturday, September 28 for a 1:00 p.m. tilt with the Golden Eagles, their first matchup as Empire 8 members. Houghton pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory between the two schools last season. The Highlanders and Golden Eagles have met every year but one (2020) since 2010, with Houghton holding an 8-5 advantage. All but two of those 13 contests has been decided by one goal.