Women's Soccer Gives Coach Lewis Win #400
BUFFALO, NY – Houghton women's soccer Head Coach
David Lewis reached a monumental milestone with his 400th career win Saturday in a 6-0 victory over Medaille College.
Lewis is among a select group of 25 women's college coaches across all divisions of NAIA and NCAA to reach the 400-win plateau. Lewis, who began coaching in 1991, tallied 326 wins when Houghton competed in the NAIA. Since the transition to NCAA in 2012, Lewis has registered another 74 wins, including a 4-0-1 mark this season. In his previous 27 seasons, Lewis produced a better than .500 mark 24 times. His teams advanced to 12 NAIA national tournaments. During that run in the NAIA, Lewis was recognized six times as the NSCAA NAIA Northeast Coach of the Year, and nine times as the conference/divisional coach of the year. In 2015 his team claimed the NCCAA Division I National Title, the first even national championship for a Houghton women's team, and Lewis was named the NCCAA Division I National Coach of the Year.
Lewis became Houghton's longest tenured coach as he began his 28th season at the helm this fall. That surpasses Doug Burke who coached the men's program for 27 seasons.
"God has blessed me with a lot of quality people to coach. It's been a true joy to have the privilege to work with them. I have to give the credit to God for keeping me where I am. It's an opportunity to fulfill a passion I have," said Lewis. "I've been watching the women's game long enough. I can see the potential in prospective players and how to develop them. To be in the company of others who can do that is a real privilege. Others at higher levels might be able to get the elite players, but we've had a history of having good players and building them to be the best they can be at our level."
Houghton Director of Athletics and men's soccer Coach
Matthew Webb had high praise for Lewis. "Coach Lewis has been committed to playing the game the right way his entire career," said Webb, who served as Lewis's assistant in the mid-90s. "Reaching 400 wins is a phenomenal accomplishment and is a testament to his excellent recruiting, disciplined coaching, and investment in his players. He wouldn't want any focus to be put on him, and would probably attribute all his success to his players, but we know the gem we have in Coach Lewis here at Houghton. Very few in the history of college soccer have reached this milestone. Coach Lewis is simply one of the very best."
MEDAILLE RECAP
Against the Mavericks on Saturday, the Highlanders put three goals on the board in each half. Kealy DeForest opened the scoring in the third minute, before Sierra Neddo collected her first career goal just five minutes later. Jessica Beattie registered back to back tallies to end the first half and start the second, with McKenzie Marti putting in her second of the season in the 57th minute and Neddo finding the net again to close the scoring in the 63rd minute.
The win pushed the Highlander win streak to four games, the first time the team has done that since they closed their 2015 NCCAA championship season with six-straight victories.
MATCH VITALS
Score: Houghton – 3 | Medaille - 0
Records: Houghton 4-0-1 | Medaille 1-6-0
Location: Dobson Field | Medaille College | Buffalo, NY
SCORING SUMMARY
| Team |
Description |
| 2:12 |
 |
Kealy DeForest (6)
Assisted By: Meagan Barry |
| 7:08 |
|
Sierra Neddo (1)
Assisted By: Stephanie Beattie |
| 36:21 |
|
Jessica Beattie (5) |
| 50:22 |
|
Jessica Beattie (6)
Assisted By: Brielle Kwarta |
| 56:32 |
|
McKenzie Marti (2) |
| 62:35 |
|
Sierra Neddo (1) |
MATCH STATS
>> The Highlanders had a decisive advantage in shots in each half, outshooting the Mavs, 18-4 and 12-2, for a 30-6 final margin.
>> 22 Houghton shots were on goal.
>> DeForest and Beattie share the team lead with six goals apiece
>> Neddo finished with nine shots, including six on goal. She is third on the team in total points with 5 (two goals, one assist)
>> Sadie Dunnett (66:37, two saves) and Rachael Fortney (23:23, one saves) combined for the shutout
>> It was the team's third-straight shutout
>> Through five games, Houghton has scored 16 goals, surpassing last season's total of 13
FROM THE COACH
"It was good team effort today. I really like the progress the team is making. Medaille is a really young team. Now we are looking forward to conference play this week. I like the progress we are making. I see things we are doing well in practice that we haven't been able to implement in games. I'm very optimistic that they can do that. This week has been a real boost in their confidence. Our first four games were against teams we played last year and we had better results this time around. The players see that and it builds their confidence." – Head coach
David Lewis
UP NEXT
Houghton starts Empire 8 play when they host St. John Fisher on Tuesday, September 18 at 5 p.m.