Tag: field hockey

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Campus News

Women’s Athletics

Three sports photos: Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Field Hockey
Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Field Hockey - Courtesy of Jason Mucher
By Anna Huizenga ('26)

This upcoming Saturday, three Houghton athletic teams will be up against Russell Sage College, Hartwick College and Utica University. 

The women’s tennis team got a big win against Utica when they defeated them 9-0 last Saturday, which was an encouraging start to conference play after a tough season last year. 

“I am most excited for conference matches this season to see how much we’ve improved since last fall 2023,” Arija Grant (‘26), a member of the tennis team, shared. “I love working hard with such a great group of people where we all encourage and push each other to be better tennis players and people. Van rides with the team are also a highlight of [the] tennis season.” 

Their first win was last Saturday against Utica where they “snapped an 18 game loss streak.” Head Coach Jordan Crouch said the tennis team was on their “way for a great season.” 

“It’s been a long time coming,” Crouch said, “but this team has been working hard to build upon the rich athletic history here at Houghton.” 

With a 5-0 record, women’s field hockey is already proving themselves to be a dominant team as they enter conference play this weekend. Hartwick has been a tough opponent in past seasons, making this upcoming match extra intense. 

“I am so excited to see how far our team can go,” Deborah Cross, a senior on the team, shared. “I truly believe that we can win the E8 championships!” 

The field hockey team has been practicing hard to improve different skills. Cross said that they are seeing a lot of progress on the field, giving them reason to believe that they can push harder and achieve their goals this season.

The women’s soccer team is also off to a promising start. In their first conference game last Wednesday, they beat Hilbert 5-0 with goals from four different players. 

Head Coach Esther Pellegrino has confidence in the team’s ability to succeed this season, mentioning the team’s great results when they won against No.25 Penn State Behrend last Saturday.

“It’s always the most fun as a coach to see how the new players fit in and also to see the work that the returners have put in in the off season paying off,” Pellegrino shared. “I’m encouraged by the amount of growth I’ve seen on the field as well as off the field already. This team shows up each day to compete hard and invest well.” 

Aivery Shuck (‘26) appreciates being a part of the women’s soccer team and the wider Houghton Athletics community. “Houghton athletics is such an important part of campus; it brings people together and unites many of us with our shared love of sports,” she said. “We have built a program based on love and integrity, and the knowledge that all the glory we gain on the field goes to God.”

This weekend will be full of great competition as the Highlanders give it their all on the courts and fields, with women’s tennis playing Russell Sage at the outdoor courts at 12 p.m., women’s field hockey is going up against Hartwick at Burke Field at 1 p.m., and at 3:30 p.m., women’s soccer is facing Utica on at the field. ★

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Stories In Focus

Fall Sports Alumni Weekend

This past weekend, the Houghton College Athletic Department hosted its first Alumni Weekend for four fall sports teams: women’s volleyball, women’s and men’s soccer, and women’s field hockey.  The women’s volleyball had five alumni attend while the men’s soccer team had about twenty alumni. The women’s soccer team had fourteen alumni players return to campus, among which there were four former All-American players. Although the weather was not ideal, it was a good turnout for the first combined sport alumni event. “Saturday was a lot of fun. Always great to have our alumni back and get a chance to catch up” said Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Nancy Cole. “Wish we could see them more often. ”

Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 8.37.00 PMMost of the alumni came in on Friday or early Saturday morning to campus for this special weekend. Some stayed in the community or at some of the current players’ houses where they had the chance to reconnect with old teammates. The events started on Saturday with games taking place  around noon. At Nielsen, the women’s volleyball team played against their alumni, then the women’s field hockey played against their alumni immediately right after at 1:30pm. While the women’s and men’s soccer games were scheduled to play outside on Burke Field,  a snow covered field caused them to relocate to the Kerr-Pegula Field House. They followed the same time schedule as the teams at Nielsen with the women playing at noon and the men going right after. Once the men’s soccer game ended, everyone was invited to a reception where there was food served and a couple speeches given. “The play was fast-paced and the alumni showed that they still have their touch and can play a quality game” said Head Women’s Soccer Coach David Lewis. “Overall, it was a great opportunity to catch up on player’s families, jobs, and grad schools.” Head Men’s Soccer Coach Matthew Webb added, “Seeing the alumni back on the field playing with each other is always so fun to see.  Seeing the relationships that were formed while at Houghton sustained over the years is so rewarding.”

Throughout the years, athletic teams have always had alumni games where they played against other alumni, the junior varsity team, or the varsity team. These were more separate events that each team was in charge of coordinating and were held on different dates during the year. Often, the women’s soccer team would co-host an alumni event with the men’s soccer team but have two single events. However, the combined alumni event was a very relaxed occasion where everyone from different aspects of the college and alumni can reunite and have some fun together. “Opportunity to bring everyone back on the same day and the various departments of the college can support everyone in their competitions and talk with the alumni” commented Athletic Director Skip Lord. “It’s almost like a family reunion seeing a bunch of people that you haven’t seen in awhile.” A lot of athletes have relationships outside of their own teams and having a combined event where they can all reconnect and network helps to build that sense of community.

Sometimes alumni will drop by a visit or make a phone call, but for everyone to be in the same place at one time is definitely something that is  very special for coaches, players, and the school. One person who has only missed one women’s soccer alumni event, due to just giving birth, is a 1999 graduate and former All-American Jennifer Ricard. Webb said, “It is always great to have our alumni come back to campus…not only to see them and catch up with what they are doing, but also for our current players to be able to meet and interact with players who came before them and helped lay the foundation and traditions of our program.”

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Stories In Focus

New Coaches Join the Highlanders

Houghton welcomed two head coaches and six assistant coaches to the highlander coaching staff this year, bringing a season of change for nine athletic teams. Among the teams that welcomed new coaches include cross country, track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, field hockey, softball and women’s basketball. Numerous Houghton alumni have returned to take roles of volunteer assistants as well.

Jordan Cady, senior and member of the track team, expressed his positive outlook toward welcoming a new coach saying, “I’m looking forward to seeing how this season plays out. It’ll be much different than years past, but with change comes growth. God’s been with us through this transition and He’ll continue to run along side us throughout the season.”

Patrick HagerPatrick Hager was named head coach for both men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field programs. Hager previously served as graduate-assistant coach at Messiah College for the past two years. Prior to his role at Messiah, Hager worked as the first ever head cross-country coach at Rosemont College for two years.

“It seemed like Houghton was the fit for me, I prayed a lot about it and took a chance,” said Hager as he discussed his new job. He described being a full-time head coach as, “Everything I thought it would be,” as he discussed his excitement for the cross country and soon-to-be track season.

Hager spoke of his impressions of Houghton so far saying, “The community here is second to none. Even the support from the other coaches, no one’s overlooked. It’s nice to know there’s intentionality within the administration.”

Women’s lacrosse looked closer to home, welcoming Amanda Zacchigna, a 2014 Houghton graduate, as head interim coach. Rachael Snelgrove, former women’s lacrosse will continue to be a consultant to the program, while remaining head coach for the field hockey program.

“Coach Rachael Snelgrove laid an exceptional foundation for the team as she served as the head coach for the past two years; her involvement this year will come in the form of a mentor to me as I transition into this new position,” said Zacchigna.

Snelgrove also spoke of her role to the women’s lacrosse team saying, “I am there to help the transition run smoothly- to help Amanda with all of the finite administrative details- and to be a listening ear for her.”

“I am extremely excited to be able to serve the women as their coach,” said Zacchigna, “I understand where the program came from and what it has accomplished thus far; and I am invested in pushing these accomplishments even further.”

Joining Zacchigna as assistant coach is Marissa Meassick, Houghton 2014 graduate. Meassick will also work alongside Snelgrove as assistant field hockey coach.

Men and women’s soccer welcomed new assistant coaches as well. John Carpenter, 2014 Houghton graduate, will serve as men’s soccer assistant coach, while Erin Miller, 2014 Houghton graduate, will assist with the women’s program.

When speaking with Carpenter about his new role and shift from player to coach he said, “As a player you are constantly being told information by your coaches. Now that I am on the other side of that, I am not only trying to help the guys in that aspect, but also take in and learn from the rest of the coaching staff, what it takes to be successful from the coaching side.” Carpenter briefly added, “In this first season I am really trying to find the ways in which I can most benefit this team.”

Miller spoke in similar ways of her new role, “In the last couple months, I have had to transition my mindset as a player to a coach and find the most effective ways to translate those ideas to other players.” When speaking of the challenges she has faced as a new coach, she offered, “Finding the balance between knowing when to step in and when to allow the team to bond together and step up themselves is something that I constantly have to keep in check.”