Tag: highlander athletics

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Campus News

Men’s Soccer vs. SUNY Poly

By Sadie Nakamura ('26)

At 2 p.m. this Saturday, Houghton University’s men’s soccer team will face a new opponent: SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The team is gearing up for their next home game, where they will continue pushing to secure a spot in the playoffs. 

Aidan Fish (‘25) said, “We have never played SUNY Polytech before [but] they just joined our conference and they are coming off from winning their own conference. ” 

Fish suggested that SUNY Poly might face new challenges now that they’re competing in a different league. He believes that if HU’s team sticks to their plan, there is a good chance of beating their competitor.  

The men’s soccer team has worked hard to strengthen their teamwork. Daniele Schivo (‘26), a wingback, explained that the team began this season using one formation but recently switched tactics. 

“When you change formation, you change the tactics of the game and it becomes a little more challenging for the players that are used to different styles of play.” Schivo thinks that Coach McColl’s “number one priority lately has been to help us to improve in the formation and get better as a team.”

While it took some time to adjust to the new strategy, the team started gaining momentum and sharpening their skills. Campus Activities Board athletic director and member of the women’s soccer team Aivery Shuck (‘26) has attended many of the men’s soccer games this season. 

“They are very good at using all the variability that their team has,” Shuck said. “They have a lot of different players on the team this year with different strengths. I think they are very good at utilizing every single one of [those] strengths on the team.”

Schivo echoed this sentiment. “We don’t give up easily,” he said. “We’ve faced a lot of setbacks, especially in the last two seasons and the start of this one, but throughout it all, Coach has never given up on us. We have struggled mentally and have had some challenges but we have never given up.”

The team is fighting to reach the playoffs and extend the season for graduating seniors. The upcoming game against SUNY Poly will be pivotal, potentially determining whether Houghton progresses in the competition. HU’s Director of Athletics, Dr. Matthew Webb, explained the stakes.

“To make the playoffs, you have to finish the regular season in the top eight,” Dr. Webb said. “This is a very important game for both teams, as we are both outside of the top eight right now.” He added that every win for a team counts towards three points, while a tie counts for one point. Three points could potentially determine whether HU or SUNY Poly make the playoffs.

As a senior, Fish is especially eager to extend the season. “Making the playoffs [would be] huge,” he said. “For the last two years, we missed it by one point, which was heartbreaking. I don’t want it to end. We’re guaranteed five more games, but I wouldn’t mind stretching that number for one last dance.”

The team is also hoping for strong support from the school community. Giovanni Schivo (’27), another player and Daniele’s brother said, “This game is open for anyone to come, and especially when it is at home we encourage it. We need our Houghton supporters on the bleachers. Be loud in the bleachers and cheer on the school’s team!” 

The players encourage friends and classmates to come out to Burke Field and cheer for the men’s soccer team as they fight for their spot in the Empire 8 Championships. ★

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Campus News

Highlander Soccer Plays Tough at Nationals

Photo courtesy of Jason Mucher

The Highlander  men’s and women’s soccer teams competed in the Division I National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship last week in Kissimmee, Florida.

The men’s season ended sooner than anticipated after losing each of their two games in the first round of play in the tournament.

In the women’s championship, Houghton had one win and one tie in the first round, advancing them to the semi-finals where they ended their season, losing to Colorado Christian University, who went on to win the championship.

Going into the tournament the women were seeded 8th of 9 teams, and were placed in Pool B with the #2 and #5 seeds. “Our team played very well in the Pool Games and advanced to the Final Four by winning our pool” said Lewis.

Reflecting on last year’s tournament, Jennifer Zacchigna ’17 said, “We had a strong performance on the women’s side, making it to the final four in a tournament with a lot of talented teams.”

She continued, “We would’ve loved to make it to the championship to defend our title, but overall we were definitely happy we were able to make it as far as we did.”

According to David Lewis, Women’s Soccer Head Coach, the  team lost 14 players from last year’s National Champion Team due to graduation, injury, or academic conflicts.

“This team’s focus was to improve in two levels: quality of soccer and quality of effort. They improved significantly throughout the season it showed in their post-season play. From start to finish, they represented one of the most improved teams I have coached here at Houghton,” said Lewis.

Men’s midfielder Jesse Toth ’17 said, “We didn’t do as well as we wanted as we lost both our games, but I am super proud of our team and what we accomplished this season.”

He continued, “The National Christian tournament is a very competitive series with some of the best teams around the country. Being in Florida with your best friends is very hard to complain about. While losing was disappointing, when we put it in perspective, we knew we gave it all we had and left nothing on the field.”

Toth reflected on the opportunity to have both Houghton soccer teams in Florida. This is the first time in a few years both teams have been in the tournament at the same time. “Having both teams there was a blast. Our games were spaced out perfectly so we were able to watch each other’s games in their entirety.”

He continued, “It was very cool to get to know some of the girls better. It is so different interacting with people when school is not the focus on people’s minds and you can just have genuine conversation, especially on such a long bus ride.”

While in Florida, the women’s team completed a service project organized by Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) and Feeding Children Everywhere.  The men and women’s teams who made it to the semi-finals had the opportunity to participate.

“We went to the CRU headquarters to help prepare meals for families to send to Haiti. It was a great time of fellowship with the other teams and a really successful effort to help families in need,” said Zacchigna.

Although neither team brought home a national title, the opportunity for both soccer teams to compete in the tournament was a huge success as they needed both a good record and success in the region tournament in order to move to post-season play.

Toth said, “It has been an absolute privilege to be a part of the Houghton Men’s Soccer Program This team has taught me that it’s not about the result of the game. Win or lose, our main focus is glorifying God through our actions on the field. I truly believe that we accomplished that at the national tournament.”

The National Championship title was claimed by Southwestern Christian University for the men and Colorado Christian University for the women.

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Campus News Sports

Sports Update // Highlander Basketball Season Off To Strong Start

Photo courtesy of Jason Mucher

The Highlanders women’s basketball team came out strong in their first game against Alfred State. Led by captains Elle Reed ‘17 and Hannah Manwaring ‘17, the Highlanders beat the Pioneers 76-56. “We focused on details, especially on defense, which is great to see in the first game of the season,” said Reed.

Defense seemed to be a point of emphasis for the Highlanders who tallied 11 steals, and controlled the glass with 43 total rebounds. “Defense has always been top priority, as coach always says ‘defense feeds our offense.’ We have to be able to get stops in order to get the ball back to score and run our offense,” said Manwaring. Manwaring contributed 12 rebounds of her own to the winning effort.

After defeating Alfred State, he Highlanders then traveled to Buffalo State to take on the Bengals. It was a tightly contested game which featured seven lead changes, but unfortunately the Highlanders were beaten by a score of 64-59. “We need to limit our turnovers,especially ones that are unforced,” said Manwaring.  “If we can cut the number of turnovers in half, we should put ourselves in a much better position to win.”

One of the most encouraging aspects the Highlanders took away from the defeat was the emergence of freshman guard, Cori Beck. In her first collegiate start, Beck put up 12 points, two assists, and six steals in her 36 minutes of play. Beck took a total of seven shots, all from three-point range, and managed to hit four of them. “I just felt like I fit into the team as soon as I got here…I was a little nervous before the game but that’s usual for me,” she said.“[I] felt a little pressure before the game because I was scared to mess up, but when I started playing I just zoned into what I needed to do, and didn’t worry about anything else.”.

According to Reed, this is not the end for them. She said, “We know that we work harder in practice than any team we play, which gives us confidence no matter what the outcome of the games are.” The Highlanders will look to bounce back against Pitt-Brad at home on Tuesday, November 29.

Additionally, Coach Corky McMullen made his coaching debut for the Houghton College Men’s Basketball team, at home against Alfred State; winning by a score of 85-74, and then going on to beat Wells College by a score of 85-75. McMullen has earned nothing but praise from his captains. Captain Jonathan Stowe ‘17 said “Coach’s motivation” was key to the men’s 2-0 start. Strowe continued, “We started both games bad for the first 10 minutes, but Coach reminded us to play defense and to relax and let us run our offense smoothly”.

Fellow captain Phil Pellegrino ‘17 agreed, “He is a positive vibe to have around all the time.”He stated, “He not only impacts our lives on the basketball court but also in the classroom and in life in general…he brings a lot of experience and I am enjoying learning from him every day at practice.”

Unfortunately, Hilbert College proved too much, and  the Highlanders,  fell to the Hawks 84-69. “Rebounding and turnovers are the keys to success for us. If we can control the glass and not turn the ball over, we will be successful,” guard Jordan Scott ‘17 said.. The Highlanders accumulated  18 turnovers  in the loss.

The women will play at home on Saturday, December 3 to play the State University of New York (SUNY) Canton at 2 p.m. The men will resume home play on Tuesday, December 6 against Grove City College at 7 p.m.

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Campus News

End of Season Fall Sports Update

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.

Photo by: Anthony Burdo
Photo by: Anthony Burdo

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.

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Stories In Focus

Houghton Athletics Celebrates Major Milestones

Houghton College is embarking on a new chapter of athletics starting this year as it enters a full membership in the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. According to Jason Mucher, the Empire 8 (E-8) category has proved to be a great fit for Houghton College. “It’s allowed for less travel time, keeping students around,” said Mucher, who also mentioned how the schools themselves were more like Houghton, with the E-8 mainly composed of “small to midsized, private liberal arts colleges who emphasize good academics.” The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) ceased to be a viable fit for Houghton geographically, and was slowly diminishing, which led Houghton to pursue membership into the more widely known NCAA Division III.

The college embarked on a five-year process to earn this new status. The process began with one exploratory year, and then four provisional years. Each year, the college received a promotion until full membership was achieved. In order to start the process, Houghton had to add multiple sports, including baseball, softball, men and women’s lacrosse, men and women’s tennis, and men and women’s golf. When they first started on the path to NCAA Division III, athletic director, Harold “Skip” Lord, met with the Commissioner and the Council President of the E-8 to look at Houghton’s facilities. At the time, the campus only had Burke Field, a practice soccer field, and a field hockey field.

“The question was, what would we do for facilities,” said Lord. Houghton needed all-weather facilities to be viable along with a baseball and softball field. Mucher and Lord both commented that they started looking into what they would like to see built. This is when the Pegula and Kerr families asked what they could do to help. They then decided to give the gift of the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex (KPAC) that includes the Kerr-Pegula Field House (KPFH), baseball field, and softball field.

As Houghton celebrates a new chapter in athletics, it also celebrates its athletic history with this year making 50 years of athletics at Houghton. Lord praised Mucher and stated, “Jason Mucher has been doing a lot of the work.” He also stated it was a team effort and that “many have vision casted what it would look like.”

Mucher talked much about how Houghton is celebrating the milestone. The department created a timeline of milestones, a logo, the mural, giveaways, events, contests, and many other different ways to encourage students to come to athletic events, while also celebrating the legacy and tradition of sports at Houghton. Events started early in September and many students have participated through Homecoming weekend, the legacy chapel, and attending sports games on the Saturday of Homecoming weekend. According to Mucher, the original sports teams at Houghton in 1967 were all men’s and included soccer, cross-country and basketball. In 1968, Houghton added baseball, track, tennis and golf. Finally, in 1969 Houghton added its first women’s sport, basketball.

Students have been enjoying the celebrations and revisiting Houghton’s athletics history. Olivia Bullock ‘20, a women’s soccer player, said, “It’s meaningful to be a part of such a long tradition of high level athletics focused on glorifying God through sports.”

Mucher and Lord agreed this celebration has been a team effort throughout the department. Mucher is proud of the well-rounded teams at Houghton, and the attitude being taken beyond the school. As Houghton continues to celebrate its athletics, the department is looking to plant major events in February and April. There will be continual celebratory events throughout this semester, the next including Throwback Thursdays on Houghton social media, athletics panels, and reminders at games.

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Campus News Sports

Fall Sports Off to Strong Start

A few weeks into the fall semester, and athletics are off to a good start. Both the women’s tennis team and field hockey team have seen improvements in their season and are fighting hard in competition.

According to Charlie Ellis, head coach of the tennis team, the team is a close-knit group which has a high level of respect for each other and the teams they compete against. It’s been a good season and although they have had some difficulties with illnesses and the high demands of the classroom, the team is holding together very well.

“The girls are an extremely humble group,” said Ellis. “It’s enjoyable to work with them because they really do care about the team and their reputation deeply.”

Ellis emphasized the positive culture his team has created between every player, “These girls enjoy each other’s company regardless of ability. They push each other everyday and work to help each other instead of trying to compete within their team.”

As a coach, Ellis likes to observe the girls who are not typically in the front line up. Their goal is to push the players at the top in practice everyday. “They always do a great job pushing and fighting to reach the top,” said Ellis. He explained how those girls have to work hard because they always have to be ready to be called upon to play in a game.

As a team, “They don’t press and get outside of what they are capable of doing and they don’t embarrass themselves. They make sure the other team has to play and really fight for their points. Even if a team beats us, they have to spend a long time fighting for it,” said Ellis.

Women’s tennis is a new team, just started 4 years ago by their current coach. Ellis attributes their success to the girls’ commitment to improving their tennis game. As a coach, he focuses on the skill sets of his athletes and seeing individual and team improvement each week and year.

Ellis said, “We are more focused on measuring the physical success of tennis skills compared to winning or losing. The skills of our team are better this year for sure.”

The team looks forward to their home match against Alfred University on Tuesday, October 4th. Ellis said, “It’s always a pretty even competition and it’s nice to enjoy a conference match with a team right down the road.”

Also showing success, with a 4-2 record, the field hockey team is one to look out for this season. According to Elizabeth Modesto ‘18, “This year’s team is primarily upperclassmen who have been playing with each other for several years. We’ve also gained some solid key players.”

Captain Kelsie Ashley ‘17 said, “Our team is unique in that we have a larger roster than years past. Even with some new players, our previously young team has transitioned into a veteran squad.”

Modesto commended their strong season to the team’s connectivity on and off the field. This strength is witnessed in their successful passing patterns up the field and their constant communication.

One of the team’s main goals for their season is to push each other to their full potential and raise the overall standard of play.  According to Ashley this is something they talk about regularly as a team.

Moving forward into a busy season, Ashley, Modesto, and their team look forward to more challenging conference games as well as continued growth in their learning and weakness on the field.

Field Hockey plays at home on October 8th and looks forward to redeeming themselves to Washington & Jefferson College after a tough loss last year.