ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Sam Smyth scored the game's lone goal in the 51st minute Wednesday and freshman Drew Decker set a single-season school record with his 12th assist as the Golden Flyers secured a 1-0 men's soccer victory over visiting Houghton at Golden Flyer Stadium.

The Golden Flyers closed out the schedule as the Empire 8 Conference regular-season champion and the top seed for next week's conference tournament. Nazareth remained unbeaten in its last 12 games (11-0-1) and improved to 12-1-2 overall and 7-0-1 in the E8. Nazareth also extended its home-field winning streak to 19 games, dating back to the 2019 season. Nazareth will host a semifinal match Wednesday, Nov. 3 against the winner of Monday's No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup.

Houghton dropped to 6-11 overall and 5-2 in the E8. The Highlanders have also clinched an E8 playoff spot and can secure the No. 2 seed with a win Saturday at home against Russell Sage.

After a scoreless first half in which Houghton out-shot Nazareth 6-3, the Golden Flyers converted the game's lone tally after Decker broke free past a Houghton defender on the left wing side of the field. His crossing pass found the foot of Smyth, who delivered his third goal of the season. For Decker, the assist broke the previous record of 11 assists, held by Hall of Famer Jefferson Dargout since 2002.

Houghton generated some opportunities later in the second half, but Nazareth's freshman goalkeeper Logan Menna was equal to the challenge in recording his sixth shutout of the season by making seven saves. He lowered his goals-against average to 0.59 and improved his save percentage to .882.

In gaining the top seed for the E8 Tournament, Nazareth will be seeking its second conference title in three years and its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance.