Houghton Advances to NCCAA Tournament after 4-0 Win over Ohio Christian
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Senior
Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian) scored two first half goals and fellow senior
Darlene Eckhardt (Eden, NY, Eden) added a goal and two assists as top-seed Houghton women's soccer earned a 4-0 win over #2 seed Ohio Christian in the NCCAA Midwest Region Championship game at Burke Field.
The win gives the Highlanders a berth in the NCCAA Division I National Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla., November 30-December 5.
Gabriele scored her ninth goal of the season in the third minute, running to the left post and heading in a beautifully placed cross from Eckhardt. The lead grew to 2-0 when Gabriele tallied her team-leading 10th goal in the 35th minute.
Houghton had a 13-4 advantage in shots in the first half.
Bailey Shattell (Syracuse, NY, Faith Heritage) made the score 3-0 in the 58th minute when she nodded home her seventh of the year. It was Eckhardt again who sparked the play, looping in a shot from the right that Shattell headed at the left post.
Eckhardt closed the scoring in the 62nd minute, following up on a hard shot by Shattell that the Trailblazers' keeper was unable to corral.
Shots ended up 41-10 in favor of the hosts.
Houghton keeper
Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central) made three stops.
The Highlanders improve to 12-6-2 on the year, while Ohio Christian finishes with a record of 11-9.