Highlander fall sports are largely over for the season, with post season play pending for women’s soccer and the men’s soccer team slated to compete in the Empire 8 (E8) tournament.The men’s cross country team finished in 5th place at the Empire 8 cross country championship, and the women finished in 6th place. Tyler Deuschle ‘20 led the men’s 8k with a time of 28:16.5. On the women’s 5k, Ella Hotchkiss ‘18 was the first Houghton finisher at a time of 20:44.4.
Field hockey also opened with a strong start, winning its first home game against Wells College 7-0. However, a streak of midseason losses left the Highlander’s field hockey team with an 8-9 record, with a 3-5 record in conference play.
Women’s volleyball played under a new assistant coach, Houghton Highlander alum Brianne Starks, as well as longtime head coach Nancy Cole. The women split the season with a 14-14 record, and a 4-4 record in conference matches. The season ended on a high note with a close win over Marywood University at a home volleyball tournament last weekend. The team will graduate two seniors, Alicia Needham and Sydney Pow, and expects to induct four seniors next season,Naomi Prentice, Anna Coryell, Erica Barney, and Rebekah White.
Women’s tennis has split their season 6-6 so far. The team will look to add a win to their record at their next match in February against University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, at the Kerr-Pegula Field House (KPFH).
Men’s tennis sits at a 2-1 record, and will attempt to defend their win against the State University of New York at Oswego in February at the KPFH.
Women’s soccer ended conference play at 3-4, and was not eligible for E8 playoffs. However, the team is ranked 9th nationally in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) and may be still be eligible to compete in the NCCAA regional tournament.
Men’s soccer has been strong all season. The team is 10-3-4 on the season, and is 4-1-2 in the E8 conference. In its first season of E8 eligibility, the men are ranked 3rd in the league. They will face off against Ithaca College, ranked 2nd, on November 4 in Hoboken, New Jersey.