Score: Houghton College 1, Elmira College 0
Records: Elmira (6-10, 1-6 E8), Houghton (5-11, 2-6 E8)
Location: Murray Athletic Center -- Pine Valley, N.Y.

PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- In an Empire 8 Conference game that came down to the wire, the Elmira College field hockey team was defeated by Houghton College, 1-0, on a chilly afternoon at the Murray Athletic Center.

EC's 2018 home finale nearly went to overtime, but Houghton's defense was able to nullify a penalty corner that was awarded to the Soaring Eagles as regulation time expired. Elmira had been limited to only one shot on goal throughout the entire game but had two attempts at an equalizer following the corner insert by Liz Shephard '21. Shephard's inbounds pass went to Kelsie Aloi '21, who swung and fired a hard shot that was blocked by Houghton goalie Sarah Olandt. The rebound didn't travel far, as Mae Dinh '19 quickly nudged the ball towards the cage, only to be kicked aside again by Olandt. Caitlin Jennings then made a heads-up play to clear the ball towards the sideline to end the penalty corner and secure the win.

The Highlanders possessed the ball for the majority of Wednesday's contest, as evidenced by their 23-to-4 advantage in shots and an 11-to-4 lead in penalty corners. Despite the extra offense, Elmira goalkeeper Tina O'Donnell '20 was able to limit Houghton to just one goal. The junior from Kutztown, Pennsylvania, stopped the first six shots on goal attempted by the Highlanders and made 15 total saves in the contest. However, sisters Caitlin and Nicole Jennings teamed up for the only goal of the game in the 28th minute, which held up as the game-winner.

News and Notes

• Elmira falls to 6-10 overall and 1-6 in conference with one E8 game remaining.
• The Soaring Eagles will finish the 2018 season with an even 4-4 record at the MAC.
• Wednesday's loss is the second one-goal defeat EC has suffered this season, as the Soaring Eagles are 4-2 in one-goal contests.
• O'Donnell broke a tie and took sole possession of third place in the program record books with 204 saves.
• O'Donnell is one of just two goalies to log 200-plus saves in a single season, joining Jalene McCulloch '10, who did so twice in 2008 (314) and 2009 (270).
• O'Donnell's 1136:59 minutes played in cage also rank fourth in EC single-season history.

Up Next
The 2018 regular season will come to a close on Saturday, October 27, when the Soaring Eagles visit No. 18-ranked Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.