HOBOKEN, N.J. – The second-seeded Ithaca College men's soccer team fell to third-seeded Houghton College, 2-1, in the semifinal round of the 2016 Empire 8 Championship on Friday evening at De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J.

With the loss, Ithaca closes out the season with a 7-9-1 overall mark.  Houghton, which improved to 11-3-4 overall, will move on to face fourth-seeded St. John Fisher College at 7 p.m. on Saturday for the conference crown.  Fisher upset top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology in penalty kicks in the championship's other semifinal contest. 

After a scoreless first half of play, both teams continued to force the issue but it would be Houghton that struck first in the 57th minute as the Highlanders sent a through ball to the far post that found its way past Ithaca's defense before being tapped into the back of the net to stake the Highlanders to a 1-0 lead.

Trailing by a goal and time winding down, Ithaca would turn defense into offense in the 70th minute as Zachary Lichtman corralled the ball at the midfield line and redirected it to Scott Halpern on the far side.  Halpern dribbled up field and dumped the ball off to Alexander Brosnihan who turned on the jets and blew past the Highlanders' backline before lofting the ball over the Houghton keeper and into the net to knot the game at one goal apiece.   

With the game deadlocked at 1-1, both teams tried to work the ball into their respective offensive zone.  After turning away a shot on goal by Halpern, Houghton pushed the ball up the field and worked a short crossing pass to the far side that found its mark as the Highlanders were able to sneak a shot into the top corner to take a 2-1 edge in the 77th minute.

The Bombers appeared to notch the tying goal in the 88th minute of play but the celebration would be cut short as the offside flag went up disallowing the goal.

Zach Jacobsen took the loss in net and moved to 7-7-1 on the season.  The senior made seven saves in 90 minutes of action. 

Overall, Ithaca took seven shots led by Brosnihan and Halpern who were credited with three shots each.  Sam Boylan also had a shot.  Both Boylan and Halpern were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.