CORTLAND, N.Y. – Junior Jessica Welsh (Hamilton) had a hand in all three Cortland goals as the Red Dragons defeated Houghton, 3-0, Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at the Stadium Complex. The Red Dragons improved to 3-1 with the victory, while the Highlanders fell to 3-2.

Welsh finished with one goal and two assists, and senior Anna Branch (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) and junior Jess Gibaldi (Westbury/W.T. Clarke) each tallied a goal. Junior goalie Kailynne Reinoehl (Lititz, PA/Warwick) registered nine saves, and sophomore Sara Reardon (Little Falls) recorded a defensive save. Senior goalie Elizabeth Piszker (Glen Mills, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) stopped 15 shots for Houghton.

The Highlanders nearly took the lead 19:34 into the game, but Reinoehl made a diving save on a shot by senior Grace Lee (Gyeongbuk, SK/Rift Valley Academy). Branch put the Red Dragons on the scoreboard at 30:09 with a one-time sweeping shot from the left side into an open goal.

Gibaldi made it a 2-0 game at 52:31 off a one-time shot from the right side that found its way inside the left post. Just over three minutes later, Piszker kept the score at 2-0 when she denied a penalty stroke by Cortland senior Meg Redmond (Accord/Rondout Valley). Freshman Caitlin Jennings (Vestal) had two excellent chances to cut into the lead for Houghton, but Reardon made a diving defensive save with 10:15 to play and Reinoehl stopped a deflection in front with 5:30 on the clock. Welsh completed the scoring with a straight-on blast from 12 yards out for the 3-0 final.

Cortland 3, Houghton 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Houghton: no scoring
Cortland: Jessica Welsh 1-2, Anna Branch 1-0, Jess Gibaldi 1-0

Halftime: Cortland 1, Houghton 0
Shots: Cortland 23, Houghton 10
Penalty Corners: Cortland 7, Houghton 4
Saves: Elizabeth Piszker (Houghton) 15 (3 GA in 70:00); Kailynne Reinoehl (Cortland) 9 (0 GA in 70:00)

Record after game: Houghton (Highlanders) 3-2; Cortland (Red Dragons) 3-1