Highlanders Headed to E8 Championship after Downing Bombers
HOBOKEN, N.J. – The third seeded Highlanders won a thriller versus the second seeded Bombers of Ithaca College, 2-1, in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament semi-final. The Highlanders are now headed to the Empire 8 Conference Championship game tomorrow versus fourth seeded St. John Fisher College. The win takes the Highlanders to 11-3-4 on the year while the loss takes the Bombers to 7-9-1 on the season.
After a scoreless first half of play, both teams continued to force the issue but it would be Houghton that struck first in the 57th minute as sophomore
Ben Lawrence tapped in a goal when the ball came to him during a scrum in the Bombers box with seniors
Landon Sheaffer and
Tyler Inch getting the assists.
Trailing by a goal and time winding down, Ithaca would turn defense into offense in the 70th minute as
Zachary Lichtman corralled the ball at the midfield line and redirected it to
Scott Halpern on the far side. Halpern dribbled up field and dumped the ball off to
Alexander Brosnihan who turned on the jets and blew past the Highlanders' backline before lofting the ball over Houghton keeper, Jacob Dunnett and into the net to knot the game at one goal apiece.
With the game deadlocked at 1-1, both teams tried to work the ball into their respective offensive zone. After turning away a shot on goal by Halpern, Houghton pushed the ball up the field and worked a short crossing pass to the far side that found its mark as junior
Ben Munkittrick netted a sho into the top corner from senior
Tyler Ashley to take a 2-1 edge in the 77th minute.
The Bombers appeared to notch the tying goal in the 88th minute of play but the celebration would be cut short as the offside flag went up disallowing the goal.
Houghton will be playing the Cardinals of St. John Fisher College in the Empire 8 Championship game Saturday at 7 p.m. in Hoboken, N.J.