Houghton Gets Fourth Quarter Comeback Win over Hiram
HIRAM, Ohio -- Tyler Kempney (Carthage, NY, Carthage High School) scored three-straight goals in the fourth quarter to erase a two-goal deficit and lead the Highlanders to a 12-11 victory over Hiram College in men's lacrosse action on Saturday.
The win was the first in the program's history.
This one went back and forth, with each team using multi-goals to try to seize momentum. The Terriers jumped out to a 3-1 first quarter lead. Kempney scored off an assist from
Sean Daigler (Elma, NY, Iroquois) for the Highlanders' first quarter goal.
The Higlanders exploded for five-straight goals to take a 6-3 lead, but the Terriers scored twice in the last two minutes of the half to pull within one heading into the locker room. The run for Houghton featured three goals from
Michael Ball (Binghamton, NY, Chenango Valley) and one apiece from Kempney and Daigler.
Hiram continued its momentum from the end of the first half, scoring five more goals to take a 10-6 lead, before Kempney scored to stop the bleeding with two minutes left in the quarter.
Trailing 10-7, the Highlanders got goals from Ball and
Ross Chapman (Kemptville, ON, Canada, N. Grenville District) early in the fourth to pull within one, but another Terrier goal gave the hosts a two-goal lead (11-9) with 11:18 remaining.
Kempney responded just over a minute later to close the gap to one, then capitalized on a man-up opportunity to tie the score at 11 with 7:29 remaining. Kempney capped his afternoon with the game winning tally with 5:07 left.
Kempney finished with six goals, two assists and seven ground balls. The senior now has 15 goals in just three games this season, including 13 in this weekend's two-game road trip.
Ball added four goals and four ground balls. Daigler and Chapman each had a goal and two assists.
Josh Haingray (Houghton, NY, Houghton Academy) played the full 60 minutes in goal, stopping 13 shots.
The Highlanders return to action on Wednesday, March 13 when they host Alfred University at 4 p.m.