The visiting Highlanders (7-6, 4-1 AMC) set the pace of the match in the first half as they outshot MVNU 12-5. However, the match remained scoreless as senior goalkeeper Alex Stout posted five saves to help keep the Cougars (8-4, 2-1 AMC) in the match.

Houghton’s attack finally found the back of the net in the 60th minute when Dan Brubaker flicked in a header off a free kick by Justin Farnsworth to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead.

With MVNU pushing up to equalize, Houghton was able to take advantage of a defensive mistake to extend its lead to 2-0 in the 72nd minute. As Stout tried to clear a ball in the box by kicking it, the ball deflected off Daniel Smith and Smith settled it for a shot into an empty net.

The Cougars, who had not lost a home since a 2-1 setback against Notre Dame College last year on September 24th, continued to work hard to get on the scoreboard and they had a golden opportunity to cut the deficit in half in the 85th minute when junior midfielder Cody Snouffer’s shot from point blank range went just wide. (photo below)

Houghton finished with a 23-14 advantage in total shots and a 12-5 edge in shots on goal. MVNU did lead in corner kicks 5-1. Stout finished with 10 saves for the Cougars, while Steve Zacchigna stopped five shots to post the shutout.

“Today was disappointing in that we just did not play to the same level that we have as of late,” said MVNU coach Paul Furey. “We have been coming out of the gate and playing really well, but we just did not get it going today the way that we had hoped. To Houghton’s credit, they played solid. We had some chances late, but it was kind of tough to overcome the two-goal hole that we had dug.”

“It is important for us to have the right frame of mind as we now have to prepare for another tough match tomorrow,” Furey added.

The Cougars will return to action on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. when they will host Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College in another important AMC match.