UTICA, N.Y. — The Houghton University men's soccer team struck first but was unable to maintain its early advantage, falling 3-2 to Utica University in an Empire 8 Conference match Saturday evening at the Laura M. Casamento Track and Field Complex.
The loss snapped a five-game unbeaten stretch for Houghton (4-3-4, 1-2-1 E8), which entered the contest coming off two victories and three straight draws across its previous five outings.
Daniel Da Costa opened the scoring for Houghton in the 19th minute, rising to head home a corner kick delivered by
Samuel Edwards to put the Highlanders ahead 1-0. Utica (5-5-1, 3-2-0 E8) answered in the 32nd minute when Joseph Cavallo hit a right-footed strike from the top corner of the penalty area following a cleared corner kick, leveling the score at 1-1 entering halftime.
The Pioneers seized control early in the second half behind back-to-back goals from Felix-Assa Loselose. Loselose headed in a corner kick flicked on by Braeden Arias in the 56th minute to give Utica the lead. Four minutes later, he finished a cross from Henry Schweitzer into the lower-right corner to push Utica's margin to 3-1.
Houghton cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 78th minute when
Ethan Cruz buried a right-footed free kick into the lower-left corner of the net. The Highlanders pressed for an equalizer late, generating a final shot on goal by Cruz in the 88th minute that was stopped by Utica goalkeeper Asim Gacic.
Joshua Smith made seven saves in net for Houghton as Utica held a 19-14 total shots advantage. Gacic recorded two saves for Utica.
Houghton returns home to host Nazareth University in another Empire 8 clash on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
