Going into the field hockey team’s final game of the regular season, an Empire 8 matchup against Elmira College, junior midfielder Laura Murphy knew that her team had to focus on one thing.

“We needed to win,” she said. “Other teams underestimated us throughout our season, so we didn’t want to underestimate them that game.”

The Soaring Eagles, who were winless leading up to their match against the Bombers  on Oct. 31, still remained a threat to spoil the Bombers’ hopes for postseason play. Despite its losing record, Elmira had narrowly lost to Utica and Nazareth colleges earlier in the season, both by a close score of 2–1.

The Bombers had five additional factors at stake in this matchup. With the season ending, they honored five seniors at their last home game. Not only was it the seniors’ last chance to qualify, as a fourth seed, for the Empire 8 Championship tournament, but it was also Senior Day.

“We were especially fired up for our seniors,” junior back Mia Muzio said. “It was our last regular season game, and we really needed that win.”

The Bombers, facing the possible end of their season, worked hard to control the game offensively while shutting out any threats defensively. If they couldn’t overcome the Soaring Eagles in the final matchup, it meant that Utica College would fill the fourth and final spot at the conference tournament.

The Blue and Gold got off to an explosive start with a goal from senior forward Ally Girasole in the 16th minute of the game, and the team never looked back.

Junior forward Katherine Brown scored three minutes later, and Murphy followed up with another goal a minute after that. The Bombers scored three goals in a span of four minutes, establishing a dominating pace they maintained for the rest of the game.

The team played a strong game and held the Soaring Eagles to one goal. The Bombers pulled out a 4–1 victory, moving on to play No. 19 nationally-ranked and top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology one week later.

“It was awesome, and we were all really excited,” senior goalkeeper Chelsea Welsh said. “A lot of friends and family were there, and it was great winning at home and having a chance to have a rematch with Stevens.”

Knowing they would have to step up their play for Stevens, the Bombers put their victory behind them and began to focus on practicing hard and staying aggressive.

“We worked very hard that week,” Welsh said. “We were given the chance to play in the Empire 8, and we wanted to do anything we could to make the most out of it.”

Though the Bombers worked hard and never gave up, they came up short against Stevens. They held the Ducks scoreless for the first 59 minutes of play, but lost 5–0, giving up five goals in the final 11 minutes of the game.

“That game and this season has been a learning experience for us all,” Muzio said. “We had a lot of ups and downs, but we can definitely take away something from all of the positives.”

Welsh said the season was a roller coaster ride, but she has zero regrets and will take pride in her four-year career.

“It’s definitely hit us because now it’s finally over,” she said. “We really proved something to everyone when we got a bid to the tournament, and I know none of us will forget this season.”

 

Box Score - Ithaca vs #19 Stevens (11/07/09 at Hoboken, N.J.)