Liz Howell scored for Nazareth

Women's Soccer

Nazareth edges Houghton, 1-0

Abbie Carey earns her first shutout of the season

Box Score Box | Updated stats
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Sophomore Elizabeth Howell scored the lone goal of the game for visiting Nazareth to lead the Golden Flyers to a 1-0 victory over Houghton in a women's soccer game on Tuesday evening. Senior goalkeeper Abbie Carey finished with five saves for her first shutout of the season.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers snapped the Highlanders' four-game winning streak. It's also the first loss Houghton has suffered at home this season. Nazareth holds a 10-3 all-time record against the Highlanders. After the win, the Golden Flyers improve to 6-3-2 overall. Houghton drops to 8-2 overall with the loss. With the Highlanders joining the Empire 8 as a provisional member, the game does not count in the conference standings.

Howell scored her goal only 8:22 into the game to record her second goal of the season. The goal came less than four minutes after Nazareth nearly surrendered the lead. The Highlanders' leading scorer, Stephany Ellison, hit the crossbar with her shot in the fifth minute of regulation.

In the 14th minute, Carey made two saves in a 27-second span to maintain the Golden Flyers' edge. Ellison had the first shot of the sequence, then was followed by a shot from Jenny Zacchigna. Carey stymied attempts by Ellison and Zacchigna again in the 55th minute and the 74th minute, respectively, to preserve the Golden Flyers' lead. In the final nine minutes, Ellison had another opportunity following a corner kick, but Carey made the save. Nazareth's defense secured the victory by not allowing the Highlanders another attempted shot.

Michaela Soules finished with a team-high three shots on goal for the Golden Flyers. Two of Soules' shots came in the final 12 minutes of regulation as she tried to provide Nazareth with an insurance goal. Soules also had a shot early in regulation. Junior Olivia Derleth, sophomore Tyler Carr, and freshman Briana Vibbard also had shots on goal. Houghton's goalkeeper, Shawna Sprout, recorded six saves in the loss.

The Golden Flyers and Highlanders each had 11 shots on goal. Houghton finished with a 6-3 advantage in corner kick chances, including a 4-0 advantage in during the first half.

Nazareth returns home for its next four games beginning with a Saturday contest against Stevens at 12 p.m. All four games are Empire 8 Conference contests.
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