November
2 – Elmira 5, Houghton 4
The Highlanders could not hold on to a 3-1 second-half lead, finishing their 2002 season with a loss in the Houghton Postseason Invitational. A goal by Laura Sheppard and two by Hallie Fairchild staked Houghton to a two-goal advantage, but Elmira tallied three-straight, midway through the second half to take a 4-3 lead. Kelly Mazzeo tied it with under ten minutes to play, but Elmira netted the game winner with five minutes remaining. Brieanna Claybourn and Rochelle Hershey each tallied an assist. Laura Kline made 10 saves. Elmira outshot Houghton, 12-8, but Houghton held an 11-9 edge in corners. Abby Phillips, Brieanna Claybourn, Rochelle Hershey, and Laura Hanks were named to the all-tournament team. Houghton finished the season with an 8-10 record.
November
1 – Houghton 2, Slippery Rock
Laura Kline made six saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season and Briana Burghardt and Kelly Mazzeo each scored in the Highlanders’ first game of the Houghton Postseason Invitational. The goals came in the 13th and 14th minutes, with Brieanna Claybourn picking up the assist on Mazzeo’s goal. Houghton outshot SRU, 11-6, and held a 7-5 advantage in corners.
October
30- Geneseo 1, Houghton 0
Houghton closed their regular season with a 1-0 home loss to Geneseo. The Highlanders maintained the majority of the possession, forcing 17 penalty corners to just three for the Knights and outshooting Geneseo, 14-7, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Regina Micillo scored in the 41st minute for the visitors. Laura Kline made six saves in net for the Highlanders. Geneseo’s Amanda Carver had 11 saves. The Highlanders finish their season by hosting a postseason tournament on November 1 and 2. Elmira plays Slippery Rock at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. Houghton plays Slippery Rock at 11 a.m. and Elmira at 1:30 p.m., both on Saturday, Nov. 2.
October 26 - Bloomsburg 2, Houghton 1
The
Highlanders lost to the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA-II Bloomsburg.
After a thrilling first half of play, the Highlanders found
themselves with a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Abby Phillips.
However, Bloomsburg rallied in the second half of play and was
able to score two goals for the victory. Laura Kline made 20
saves in goal and allowed two goals. Bloomsburg out shot
Houghton 27-1 and held a 27-3 advantage in penalty corners.
Houghton moves to 7-8 on the season.
October 22 - Houghton 4, Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania 3
The Highlanders (7-7) scored twice in the final 17 minutes to earn a win over IUP. The Indians jumped ahead 1-0 with 7:37 left in the first half on a goal by Amy Pincock, but Laura Sheppard scored off an assist from Jana Ortiz to pull the Highlanders even just five minutes later. IUP regained the one-goal lead when Chrissy Hill (from Jess Malenich) found the back of the net with just three minutes gone in the second stanza. Houghton's Abby Phillips tied it at two six minutes later with an unassisted tally, but Malenich (from Becky Frank) put IUP back ahead with 21:37 left in the contest. But the lead didn't last long as Rochelle Hershey knotted the score at three off an assist from Phillips just four minutes later. Ortiz provided the game winner with 11:48 remaining. Laura Kline made three saves in net. Houghton had the advantage in shots (14-9) and corners (8-7).
October
19 – Houghton 3, York (Pa.) 2 (OT)
Brieanna
Claybourn scored with 4:54 left in the first overtime to give
the Highlanders (6-7) an exciting 3-2 win. Houghton had jumped
out to a 2-0 lead with goals by Kelly Mazzeo and Rochelle
Hershey, but York rallied to tie the score and send the game to
OT. Claybourn and Mazzeo also tallied assists. Laura Kline made
nine save in goal. Houghton was outshot 18-8 and out-cornered
12-8.
October
18 – Shippensburg 5, Houghton 0
Shippensburg proved why they are the third-ranked team in NCAA Division II in a 5-0 win over the Highlanders. Houghton was outshot, 33-3, and out-cornered 22-8. Laura Kline made 25 saves in goal for Houghton (5-7).
October
12 – Ithaca 2, Houghton 1
After
a dominating performance by the Highlanders, Ithaca managed to
get a late goal in the second half giving them a 2-1 victory.
Rochelle Hershey tied the score for the Highlanders after
redirecting a shot from Kelly Mazzeo with 24 minutes left in the second half. The game remained tied
until Ithaca managed to tally a late goal with only three
minutes remaining in the game. Houghton out shot Ithaca 19-6 and
held a 22-6 advantage in penalty corners. Laura Kline made one
save in goal for Houghton.
October
9 – Cortland 4, Houghton 2
Houghton College lost 4-2 to the defending NCAA III field hockey champions. Brie Claybourn scored for Houghton off an assist from Abby Phillips with 11 minutes left in the first half. Abby Phillips also added a goal late in the second half off an assist from Rochelle Hershey. Julie Gentner scored three goals for Cortland. Laura Kline made 12 saves in goal for Houghton. Cortland outshot Houghton 19-16 and held a 9-8 advantage in penalty corners.
October
1 - Houghton 2, SUNY Brockport 0
The Highlanders shutout Brockport 2-0 to win their fifth game of the season. Abby Phillips opened the scoring with an unassisted goal with 32:45 left in the first half. Rochelle Hershey assisted Phillips for her second goal of the game eight minutes later. Houghton outshot Brockport 13-4, however Brockport held an 11-10 advantage in penalty corners. Laura Kline made three saves in goal leading to her third shutout of the season.
September
28 – Juniata 4, Houghton 1
The Highlanders lost 4 -1 to Juniata Saturday afternoon. Grace McCluskey led Juniata with two second half goals. Rochelle Hershey scored an unassisted goal for the Highlanders. Laura Kline made 10 saves for the Highlanders. Juniata held a 16-7 advantage in shots and a 14-8 edge in penalty corners.
September 27 – Houghton 4, Philadelphia Biblical 0
The Highlanders defeated Philadelphia Biblical 4-0 Friday afternoon. Abby Phillips and Kelly Mazzeo each tallied a goal and an assist, while Rochelle Hershey and Isabel To each added a goal in the victory. Laura Kline made six saves to get the win and shutout. Houghton outshot Philadelphia Biblical 19-12, and both teams earned six penalty corners.
September
21 – Houghton 5, University of Scranton 0
The Highlanders got back on the winning track with a 5-0 win over the University of Scranton on Saturday. Briana Burghardt and Brieanna Claybourn both scored twice for Houghton. Abby Phillips also tallied a goal and two assists in the win. Houghton outshot Scranton, 18-3, and held a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners. Laura Kline made two saves while recording her first shutout of the year.
September
19 – Mercyhurst 2, Houghton 0
The Highlanders’ record slipped to 2-3 after a 2-0 loss to Mercyhurst. The host Lakers scored a goal in each half. Houghton’s Laura Kline made 15 saves in the loss. Mercyhurst outshot Houghton, 18-4, and held an 8-5 advantage in penalty corners. It was the Highlanders' first-ever loss to Mercyhurst after three-straight wins.
September
17 – Mansfield 3, Houghton 1
Houghton’s record slipped to 2-2 after a 3-1 loss on the road to Mansfield. The hosts scored once in the first half and twice in the second before Rochelle Hershey tallied the Highlanders’ only goal with 57 seconds left in the contest. Brieanna Claybourn picked up the assist. Laura Kline made 13 saves in goal. Houghton had a 22-18 advantage in shots but trailed in penalty corners, 13-8.
September
11 – Houghton 3, Nazareth 2
The Highlanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on to beat Nazareth, 3-2, on the road. Brieanna Claybourn scored an unassisted goal to open the scoring with three minutes left in the first half, then assisted on Lindsay Musser’s goal in the 58th minute. Hallie Fairchild scored off an assist from Jana Ortiz four minutes later. Nazareth scored twice in the final six minutes. Laura Kline made 12 saves to get the win. Houghton was outshot 16-10, but had an 11-6 advantage in penalty corners.
September 7 – Houghton 3, Slippery Rock 1
Abigail
Phillips tallied a goal and an assist as the Highlanders bounced
back from their season-opening loss with a convincing 3-1 win
over Slippery Rock. Philips opened the scoring in the 14th
minute off an assist from Brianna Burghardt. Sue Kelly, off an
assist from Laura Hanks, pushed the lead to 2-0 with nine
minutes to go in the first half. After a Slippery Rock goal
pulled the hosts to within one in the second half, Jana Ortiz
closed out the scoring, off an assist from Phillips, with 13
minutes remaining in the game. Laura Kline made six saves for
the Highlanders. Houghton held a 25-7 advantage in shots and a
11-3 edge in penalty corners.
September 6 – Wittenburg (OH) 3, Houghton 0
The 2002 season got off to a slow start for the Highlanders in a 3-0 shutout loss to Wittenburg. The hosts scored twice in the first half and added a third tally in the second half. Laura Kline made 12 saves for the Highlanders. Wittenburg outshot Houghton, 21-10, and had a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners.