Highlanders Turn in Dominant First Round Win at NCCAA Championships
KISSIMMEE, FL—In what has become a familiar calling card for the Houghton women, four different players scored a goal apiece as the second-seeded Highlanders handily defeated the seventh-seeded Columbia International University Rams, 4-0, in the first round of pool-play at the NCCAA National Championships.
The Highlanders improve to 13-6-2 on the season while the Rams fall to 8-10-1.
Houghton began their offensive assault only minutes into the opening frame, bombarding the opposing net 16 times before
Meagan Barry (Amherst, NY, Williamsville North) finally broke the scoreless tie in the 42
nd minute on an assist by
Nikki Garns (Chambersburg, PA, Greencastle-Antrim).
The Highlanders would outshoot the Rams on the day, 34-0.
In the second half Houghton found their scoring touch and the gates opened. Garns picked up her second assist of the day in the 63
rd minute, finding
Jessica Beattie (Maitland, Ontario, St. Mary's) with a feed, before tallying her own goal 16 minutes later on an assist from senior
Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian).
Gabriele finished the scoring just over a minute later when
Brielle Kwarta (Pittsford, NY, Pittsford Sutherland) crossed a ball into the six from the left side and Gabriele touched a shot past the keeper for her team-leading 11
th goal of the season.
The Highlander defense earned their 10
th shutout of the season.
Houghton returns to the pitch tomorrow afternoon to face South Region champion, sixth-seeded Warner University at 4:30 p.m.