Houghton's Braden Kari moves the ball up field in a game against Three Lakes/Phelps at Alumni Field in Houghton Monday. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — It was senior night on the soccer pitch of Alumni Field in Houghton on Monday, and the Houghton Gremlins’ upperclassmen got the job done. They defeated the Three Lakes/Phelps Bluejays, 5-2, in a non-conference matchup.

“This was our last home game of the regular season, and I wanted us to put our best foot forward. We did,” said Houghton coach Mark Lounibos. “To score five goals is always good, and to have three of those goals be from two seniors makes for a great night.”

Houghton’s leading scorer, senior Ethan Heckel, broke the ice with a goal at the 20-minute mark. He took a perfect pass from fellow senior Arobindo Ghosh, which drew the Blue Jays keeper out, and then Heckel put it past him.

Heckel kept the scoring going nine minutes later with a solo shot in and around the box. The Gremlins led 2-0 at that point.

Heckel had two goals and two assists on the night.

However, it was a short two-point advantage as the Blue Jays Lukas Riker found net for the Three Lakes squad at around the 31-minute mark.

As the first half wound down, the Gremlins had the final say.

With less than four minutes to go, Ghosh fired a blast from far out that was all net to make it 3-1.

“Arobindo has amazing footwork and took a long range shot that flew past their keeper,” said Mark Lounibos. “It capped off a great first half. One where we showed intensity from the start and dominated the midfield.”

As the second half got underway, it was a Gremlins freshman who stole the spotlight. Eli Garnell scored goals four and five for the Houghton squad. His first one came at the five-minute mark. It was unassisted, but it was Heckel who assisted him at near the end of the half. He fed Garnell a perfect pass inside the box and Garnell wasted no time in putting it past the Blue Jays keeper. That was shot number 12 for the Gremlins, and goal number five.

In the final minute of the game, the Blue Jays added a second goal courtesy of Cruz Melton.

Joining Heckel and Ghosh in the senior-night honors were classmates Jonah Falker, Augie Hamlin, Caleb Wiitanen, Daniel Xie, Wyatt Krings, Henry Lounibos and Roberto Marin.

“I am super proud of the boys,” noted Mark Lounibos.”They played well and were rewarded for that play.”

Up next

The Gremlins (7-4) will head to Marquette this Saturday for the Marquette Invitational. Playoffs begin next Wednesday, Oct. 8, at home against Boyne City.