Bombers display conference superiority
This football schedule is really not working out for me. There are only 10 games at the D-III level and for some reason Ithaca is playing six on the road. I need my fix of Bomber football and I need it soon.
Regardless, the Blue and Gold marched into the territory of their Empire 8 rival Utica College Pioneers and pulled out a thrilling come from behind victory. Utica has struggled recently in the conference but have now been rebuilt to give teams like Ithaca, St. John Fisher and Alfred a run for their money. Behind Head Coach Blaise Faggiano, an Ithaca grad who played on the 1991 national championship team, and freshman phenom quarterback Andrew Benkwitt, the Pioneers look like a true contender.
Utica’s offense came out swinging on their home turf in a game that they hoped would be a statement to the rest of the conference. The Pioneers were up 24-14 at halftime and though I couldn’t see the game first hand, the WICB broadcasters sounded pretty grim. From most accounts, it sounded as if the Bombers would fall to a .500 record at 2-2 and be fighting an uphill battle for the rest of the season.
However, the defense must have been woken up at halftime because four interceptions set the Bombers up for a comeback. Two picks a piece from sophomores Mike Conti and Spence White kept QB Brian Grastorf and the offense on the field. After two field goals from Andrew Rogowski, senior running back Thomas Bergerstock took an eight yard run into the endzone to cap the comeback and seal a 27-24 win.
With the win, the South Hill squad moves to 3-1 overall and moves up to No. 20 in the national rankings. Unfortunately, Bomber fans will have to wait another week to catch a game at Butterfield Stadium because Ithaca will once again be on the road to battle the Hartwick Hawks. However, the October, 10 showdown with St. John Fisher is fast approaching and if they keep playing like they have been, the Bombers will remain a force in the Empire 8.
Soccer teams hot out of the gate
Fall season is really in full swing now and with a 2-1 football team coming off a massive 41-17 win, but let’s not forget about the sport that the rest of the world calls football. Ithaca’s soccer teams have been playing up to their usual standards and showing why are they are consistently at the top of the Empire 8.
The women’s team, coming off today’s 6-0 rain shortened rout of Alfred University, improves its record to 6-1 with its only loss coming against No. 1 ranked Messiah College. The women’s squad is one of the most consistently strong teams on South Hill and it appears Head Coach Mindy Quigg and the Bombers are at it again. Behind the speed quick-striking ability of forward Winnie Adrien and the steady contributions of midfielder Amy Scheffer, the Blue and Gold certainly have all of the ingredients for a long playoff run. Though the team did lose one of its best players ever last season in Chelsey Feldman ‘09, Feldman is still providing contributions to Ithaca’s success as a graduate assistant coach. The team will hit the road to take on SUNY-Cortland on Friday.
On the men’s side, the team has been trying to recuperate from the losses of forward Kurt Odenbach ‘09 and goalkeeper Andy Wilhelm ‘09. The team has battled to a 3-2-2 record including two double-overtime scoreless ties. Talk about defense. The Bomber backs have not allowed any more than two goals in any game this season. The Blue and Gold take on Alfred to open their conference play at home on Saturday.
So while the football team is on the road for another two weeks, check out the other football. The way these teams are playing, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
XC cruising along
The starting gun has been fired on the cross country season and both the men’s and women’s teams have had strong starts to the season. The cross country program has historically been one of the most successfull sports Ithaca has had, but our distance runners have received little recognition for their accomplishments.
Both teams competed at the Oswego Invitational on Saturday with the women finishing first of seven teams and the men placed second of seven.
Leading the way on the women’s side was freshman Jenn Randall, finishing first overall. That’s right, a freshman taking the top spot in her first college race. That’s got to feel pretty good.
Six of the top overall finishers were Bombers with the team finishing with 15 points. Second place finisher and Empire 8 rival Alfred University had 69 points. Talk about dominating the field.
On the men’s side, the Blue and Gold were just edged by SUNY-Cortland. The Bombers finished with 35 points while the Red Dragons had 21. The top four finishers in the race were Cortland runners, but places five through nine belonged to the South Hill squad.
Senior Phil Abbott was the top finisher for Ithaca, followed by freshman Nate Bickell.
Because cross country isn’t particularly a strong spectator sport, these teams don’t get the recognition they deserve. Both have been consistently dominant in the conference and in the country, especially the women behind the experienced tutelage of Head Coach Bill Ware.
Keep an eye on these teams, Bomber fans. If there is anyone that could make a run for a national championship this fall it’s these runners. I strongly urge any and all Ithaca fans to support some of the best athletes we have at IC at their first race in Ithaca on Oct. 23 at the Reif Invitational at Cornell.
Weekend roundup
What a weekend for the Blue and Gold! Kicking off the weekend on Friday, the women’s golf team hosted William Smith College at the Country Club of Ithaca and dominated in the first match of their first varsity season. Freshman Jackie Young led the way on the links shooting a team leading 89 as the Bombers crushed the Herons 370-412.
The No. 9 women’s soccer came out with the same fire on Friday as they won a defensive battle at Gettysburg College behind senior Amy Scheffer’s lone goal of the game to win 1-0. It was Head Coach Mindy Quigg’s 200th win as Head Coach at Ithaca and it couldn’t be more well deserved. Quigg is one of the most well-prepared, knowledgeable and determined coaches South Hill has ever seen and is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
Saturday however, was a different story for the women as they ran into No. 1 ranked and reigning national champion Messiah. The Bombers fell 4-1. Senior Liz Masucci’s goal was the first given up by Messiah in 795 minutes.
The No. 10 football team started off with a bang, firing on all cylinders as it demolished St. Lawrence 45-0. Senior quarterback Brian Grastorf silenced any doubters who were concerned how he would perform in his first full season as a starter. He threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two touchdowns as well. It appears that Grastorf and junior receiver Thomas Vossler looks like the offensive tandem the Bombers were looking for after the loss of Dan Juvan ‘09 and Kyle Crandall ‘09. The defense was rock solid holding the Saints to 79 net yards with zero points surrendered.
Volleyball went 1-3 at the Asics Invitational in Huntingdon, Pa., falling to No. 23 Eastern University, Hiram College and No. 2 Juniata College. The South Hill squad defeated Dickinson College.
Field hockey picked up its first win of the season defeating Morrisville State College on the road 4-2. Goals came from freshman Abbey Lind, junior Katherine Brown and two from sophomore Jessica Dillon.
Men’s soccer split a pair of games at the RWU/Turner Classic in Bristol, R.I., falling 1-0 to Plymouth State College and defeating Fitchburg State College 2-0.
The next Bomber action is at 7:00 pm Tuesday when the volleyball team takes on the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.
Home season opens with field hockey OT loss
It’s been a long summer with no Bomber action to follow, but it came to an end today with the first home game of the season. The field hockey team took on SUNY-Geneseo on sun-soaked Yavits Field, looking to start their season with a W.
From the get go, the Bombers struggled on defense. Geneseo kept pounding the ball into their offensive zone and relentlessly applied the pressure until it was too much for the D and senior goalie Courtney Dowell. Eight minutes into the game, the Knights took a 1-0 lead.
Minutes later however, Ithaca finally took control and got the ball to their attackers. Junior Key Fox scored the South Hill squad’s first goal off a corner and an assist from senior Annie Onzik.
The Knights answered twice though and took a 3-1 lead into half time. Looking like they could get nothing going, the Bombers took charge after the break. The defense buckled down and were helped by the offensive unit which did not relent control of the ball.
The offense pounded the ball into the zone, resulting in a string of corners. They converted twice and pushed the Knights into OT tied 3-3.
After the 5 minute break, the defense fell back into their first half lull and Geneseo maintained control until they ended the game. They converted in the sudden death period sending our Bombers to an opening day loss.
There are many positives to take from this game though. When the offense was able to take control, they stuck with it and was able to pound it into the zone and converting on corners. Dowell looked strong in goal and the team was enthusiastic. However, if this team wants to turn around from their sub .500 season of a year ago the defense needs to step up and protect their goalie and help provide opportunities for the attack.