Tag: women’s soccer

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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

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.”

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Sports

Women’s Soccer Team Gears Up for Fall Season

The women’s soccer team has begun their second transitional year into NCAA Empire 8. This marks Coach David Lewis’s 22nd year coaching the lady Highlanders. Houghton alum, Katie Philips has returned as the team’s assistant coach along with Kevin Austin training the keepers.

Last year, the team was composed of 36 players. This high number was due in part to the termination of the JV soccer program. This year, the roster number remains high, but has dropped to 31. There are few overnight games this year, meaning that the whole team will travel for most of the games.

Womens_Soccer“I definitely think [having a couple less players] contributes to [doing better] because that is when we play as a team,” said junior Katherine Tomlinson, “It is a lot easier to be a team when there are less of us.”

“I like this year’s team chemistry. Not that last year’s was bad or anything, it is just really good this year,” said Lewis, “The overall team depth, the strength as we go deep into our line-up, is very good. It has improved.”

Coach Lewis highlighted senior captains, Alyssa Figueroa and Erin Miller’s play this season. The third captain, senior Amanda Zacchigna, has been injured from the start of the season, but is anticipated to contribute defensively with her recovery.

“Our bench was not as strong [last year], but our freshmen have come in and stepped it up. Our eleven seniors are holding their own on the field and giving us those wins,” said Tomlinson, “We are possessing well as a team and just working better as a team overall this season.”

“As a captain it is our job to…make sure the team is bonded on and off the field and also to continue pushing ourselves. Right now we are 3-0 and doing well, but we cannot afford to slack off,” said Miller, “So we have to maintain focus and also have fun on the field; not just be all serious all the time.”

Overall the team has a record of 4-0-0 thus far. Junior Danielle Lyndsley leads the team in total goals scored at three, while junior Stephany Ellison has the most points, shots, and assists, totaling seven, twenty-nine, and three, respectively. Senior Atalie Fite has also contributed to the attack statistics as she has stepped into the forward position this season.

Figueroa and sophomore Sarah Gabriele are noted for their defensive contribution to the team. Opposing teams have not scored against the Houghton women due to the women’s strong defense and sophomore Shawna Sprout and senior Michelle Mahoney playing in goal.

“Obviously we are still not eligible for qualifications for Empire 8, but we still want to compete with the top teams in the conference and finish with the top bracket,” said Lewis, “We want to finish with them as if it did count. We would also like to qualify for the national Christian tournament and…make a good run.”

“A goal, without a doubt, especially being a senior, is to go further than we ever have in nationals. I would love to win it,” said Miller, “Our next goal is to just continue going hard and winning each game. I would love to go undefeated this year.”