Playing in its first-ever NCCAA Division I East Region Semifinal, the Lancaster Bible men's soccer team held its own against fellow NCAA Division III member Houghton, but the Highlanders persistent pressure finally paid off as Jared Toth headed in a rebound with 11:15 to play to give Houghton a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish. With the win, the Highlanders move on to the NCCAA East Region Final where they will play Roberts Wesleyan next Saturday in Rochester, N.Y. The loss ends the season for Lancaster Bible as the Chargers finish the season with a record of 12-7-1.

Despite a 1-0 score line, the game was filled with offensive chances as both goalkeepers made several nice saves to keep the game close. Just prior to Toth's goal, Lancaster Bible's Edward Bills drilled a shot that Houghton goalkeeper Jacob Dunnett dove and caught and just after the goal, Dunnett made another great save, this time on Lancaster Bible's Josiah Groff.

"I thought both goalkeepers played very well today," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Tom Ardt said. "Their goalkeeper made a couple of really nice saves and I thought Andrew [Kofstad] played well too, especially after taking a tough hit midway through the game."

Chargers goalkeeper Andrew Kofstad made eight saves over the course of the game and finished the season with 69 saves.

Ardt said he thought the Chargers played tough and executed the game plan well, but Houghton was up to the challenge and confused Lancaster Bible at times.

"I thought we had a pretty good game plan for their forwards, but their midfielders were very good and we struggled to defend at times because of how well they moved without the ball," Ardt said. 

The 12 wins this season for Lancaster Bible are the most since the 2010 season and the Chargers advanced to the program's first-ever North Eastern Athletic Conference Final.