Score: Houghton College 10 – Elmira College 9 (OT)
Records: Houghton (5-10, 2-6 E8), Elmira (4-11, 1-7 E8)
Location: Burke Field – Houghton, N.Y.
 
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The 2017 season ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Elmira College women's lacrosse team, as the Soaring Eagles relinquished a one-goal lead with 5.7 seconds left in regulation, before Houghton College scored the game-winner in overtime to clinch a 10-9 victory. Elmira's Lindsay Wargo '17 set a new program record for career saves this afternoon, as the senior netminder made four stops to set the record with a four-year total of 383.
 
EC's Sarah Hughson '18 opened today's contest with a free-position tally 2:20 into regulation, but the two teams traded goals until Houghton's Jennifer Zacchigna struck twice in a 42-second span to give the Highlanders their first lead of the game, 4-3, with 7:38 remaining in the first half. Hayley Baker '19 ended the Houghton run with an unassisted tally at the 6:14 mark, however, Zacchigna scored two additional goals in quick succession to send the Highlanders into halftime with a 6-4 lead.
 
The halftime pep talk must have been a good one by Head Coach Alexa Tardif, as the Purple and Gold opened the second half with four consecutive goals, two of which were scored on free-position attempts, to take an 8-6 lead. Kyra McDonald '18 scored the first goal for EC, before Baker cashed in on a free-position attempt to knot the score at 6-6. Elmira's Kelsey Quail '17 followed that up with back-to-back goals at the 17:40 and 12:39 marks, the former coming on a free-position.
 
Houghton wasted little time cutting into the Soaring Eagle lead, as Zacchigna found the back of the cage just 13 seconds after Quail's last goal. Zacchigna was not done quite yet, as the E8's leading goal scorer converted on a free-position shot at 6:43 to tie the game at 8-8.
 
Over five minutes passed until Baker vaulted Elmira into the lead, 9-8, with her fourth goal of the afternoon. Baker's go-ahead goal was set up by a sleek pass from Quail, her third point of the afternoon.
 
After a draw control win for Houghton, Zacchigna was awarded a free-position at 1:33 but was called for a foul shortly after, giving the ball back to Elmira. The Soaring Eagles would clear their zone 42 seconds later, but a turnover with 15 seconds on the clock set up Houghton's Chandler Jones to score the game-tying goal with 5.7 seconds left in regulation and send today's game into overtime.
 
EC opened the overtime period with a draw control win, but the Soaring Eagles turned the ball over 31 seconds later. Houghton took advantage of the Elmira error, drawing a foul and earning a free-position at 4:56. Jones came through in the clutch once again for the Highlanders, as the senior attacker played the hero by scoring the game-winning goal to clinch Houghton's second E8 win of the season.
 
Turning Point
Elmira was seconds away from ending the 2017 campaign with a conference win, but a turnover in the final 15 seconds of regulation opened the door for a Houghton comeback. Houghton's Chandler Jones capitalized on the opportunity, scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira held a 19-to-18 lead in shots.
• Houghton committed 23 turnovers, while Elmira had 18.
• The Soaring Eagles went 12-for-14 on clears and the Highlanders were 8-for-11.
• Ground balls were split evenly by the two sides, 13-13.
• Houghton won the draw control battle, 13-to-7.
• EC was 4-for-7 on free-position attempts, while Houghton went 3-for-4.
• Baker led the EC offense with four goals, two of which came on free-positions.
• Quail finished with two goals one assist, four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
• McDonald logged a pair of points on one goal and one assist.
• Rachael Goetz '20 and Hughson each scored once.
• Hughson caused six turnovers and collected four draw controls.
• Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 was credited with an assist.
• Rachel Grampp '18 logged four ground balls and one draw control.
• Kelcey Crawford '18 finished with two caused turnovers, two draw controls and one ground ball.
• Wargo made four saves in 61:08 of action.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira concluded the 2017 season with a 4-11 overall record and a 1-7 mark inside the Empire 8.
• Wargo became Elmira's all-time leader in career saves (383).
• Baker's four goals are the second-most she has scored this season.
• Hughson's six caused turnovers are also the second-most she has logged this year.
• Quail produced her fourth game this season with three-or-more points.