Score: Houghton College 3 – Elmira College 1
Records: Houghton (8-7, 3-4 Empire 8), Elmira (4-11, 1-6 Empire 8)
Location: Burke Field – Houghton, NY
 
Houghton, NY -- The Elmira College field hockey team returned to action on Saturday afternoon when it made the trek west to Houghton College for the first time as an Empire 8 Conference foe. The change of venue was not hospitable to the Soaring Eagles, as Elmira fell to the Highlanders 3-1.
 
Elmira has struggled getting off to strong starts over its recent stretch of games. The trend continued this afternoon, as Houghton got on the board in the eighth minute of play. The Highlanders worked the ball to the middle of the arc to Kelsie Ashley. She fired a shot at target that took a strange deflection right to the stick of Leah Shadbolt. She fired it into the vacated side of the cage to lift the home side to the early lead.
 
The Soaring Eagles bounced back well, generating several chances midway through the opening half. The possession paid off with an equalizer in the 23^rd minute.
 
Holding possession in the Highlander end, Atu Machika '18 corralled possession in the middle of the arc. Working the ball into a shooting position, she whipped a shot at cage which was redirected by Houghton keeper Elizabeth Piszker. Alison Mariano '18 was in perfect position to stick with the play, steering the ball into the cage to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The game remained knotted until just before the halftime horn. Houghton pushed back following the Mariano goal, holding the lion's share of possession in the Elmira end. With 1:30 left to play in the half, the Soaring Eagles were whistled for an infraction denying a goal scoring opportunity, giving Houghton a penalty stroke opportunity. Ashley Hughes buried the chance for the Highlanders to put the home side back ahead.
 
The lead would remain the same until the 59^th minute when Kristin McKane deflected in a long shot from Marissa Hollinger to double the Highlander lead. Elmira would push hard to get back into the game with limited time remaining, but Piszker denied everything on cage in the second session to preserve the lead.
 
Turning Point
Deadlocked through the opening 33 minutes, the Highlanders held possession deep in Elmira territory just before the halftime horn. Mikayla Rebusmen '17 made a pair of excellent saves on Houghton's Kristin McKane; however, the Soaring Eagles were whistled for a violation denying a goal scoring opportunity on the second save, giving Houghton a penalty stroke opportunity with 1:30 remaining in the half. Ashley Hughes converted from the penalty spot for the Highlanders, which would go on to be the decisive goal in the contest.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Houghton outshot Elmira 19-to-9 in the contest, which includes a 10-to-5 advantage in shot on goal.
• The Highlanders held a 6-to-4 advantage in penalty corner opportunities.
• Despite being held off the scoresheet, Alli Gilbert '16 was an offensive dynamo for the Soaring Eagles. She fired a game-high seven shot attempts, with a team-high three of those on goal.
• Machika recorded her first assist since the victory over Hartwick College on September 26^th.
• Kristin McKane and Kelsie Ashley tied for the team lead for Houghton with six shot attempts apiece, while McKane led the Highlanders with five shots on goal.
• Mikayla Rebusmen '17 got the start for the Soaring Eagles. She finished with three saves in 35 minutes of action.
• Julie Hockenberger '18 came on in relief to begin the second half. She finished with four saves.

 
News and Notes

• With the goal, Elmira snapped a four-game goalless drought. It was the longest such streak since being held off the scoreboard in five straight games during the 2010 season.
• Machika's assist was her third of the season, giving her a new single-season career-high.
• Mariano's goal was her first of the season.

 
Up Next
Elmira will conclude its home slate on Wednesday, October 28^th, when it welcomes Wells College to the Murray Athletic Center for a 3:30 p.m. start.