OSWEGO, NY – Houghton Field Hockey continued its strong start to the 2026 season Saturday afternoon, earning a 2-0 shutout victory over Oswego at Oswego, NY. With the win, the Highlanders improved to 5-1 on the season.
After a scoreless opening 10 minutes, Houghton broke through late in the first quarter.
Lauren Thurber found the back of the cage at 11:37, putting the Highlanders ahead 1-0. Houghton carried the lead into halftime despite several additional offensive opportunities.
The Highlanders doubled their advantage midway through the third quarter when
Courtney Walbridge converted a pass from
Kylee Barshinger at 33:47. The goal gave Houghton a 2-0 lead and ultimately proved to be the final score of the afternoon.
Houghton controlled possession and the offensive pressure throughout the contest, finishing with a 16-8 advantage in shots and earning nine penalty corners compared to Oswego's two. The Highlander defense held the Lakers without a goal, while
Amber Cribbs recorded three saves to secure the shutout.
COACH'S THOUGHTS
"Today was by far a favorite W of mine. For the first time this season we didn't just play in flashes—we put together a relentless, full 60-minute performance from start to finish, which is exactly what we challenged the girls to at the start. Our midfield was absolute iron today; they controlled the tempo, went hard on 50/50s, and carried us across the finish line. excited for this whole group." – Head Coach
Hannah Zgrablich
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 2 | Oswego – 0
Records: Houghton: 5-1 | Oswego: 4-4
Conference Records: Houghton: 1-0 (Empire 8) | Oswego: 0-0 (SUNYAC)
Venue: Oswego, NY | Attendance: 110
NOTABLE STATS
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Lauren Thurber opened the scoring for Houghton with her one goal of the afternoon, adding three shots and two shots on goal as well.
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Courtney Walbridge added the insurance goal in the third quarter, finishing with four shots and three shots on goal.
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Kylee Barshinger recorded the lone assist of the afternoon, setting up Walbridge's third-quarter goal.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will have the chance to continue building on their win streak with conference mid-week action on the road. Houghton will travel to Keuka College to take on the Wolves this Wednesday, September 30, at 4:00 PM. This match-up will be the Highlanders' second conference contest of the season.
