Weekend roundup
September 8, 2009 2:45 pm by Cory
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.
Share 
Leave a Comment
Home season opens with field hockey OT loss
September 2, 2009 6:59 pm by Cory
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.
Share Leave a Comment
A new blog, a new year
August 29, 2009 3:29 pm by Cory
Hey Bomberland! Welcome to The Extra Point. This is a new sports blog that will be written by an Ithaca fan for Ithaca fans. Over the course of the year I’ll be attending games from every sports team on South Hill and providing you with analysis and insight, all from a fan’s perspective. For the first post, I thought I’d start with something everyone is getting excited for. With the first week of classes in the books and the weather starting to feel like fall, that can only mean one thing, football season is upon us. After last season’s disappointing first round playoff loss to Curry College, I know I’ve been waiting to see how hungry the 2009 edition of Bomber football is going to be to get back to the top.
The issue of course is that every football team can really only be as good as its quarterback, and for the past three years, Dan Juvan has been solid under center. Now with Juvan graduated, it’s senior Brian Grastorf’s turn to take control of the team. For most teams this might be a concern, but I have an immense amount of confidence in Grastorf. At the end of last season when Juvan went down with an injury, Grastorf, having been part of the system for three years, filled in nearly seamlessly. His most impressive performance came in the rain-soaked Cortaca Jug game, when Grastorf picked apart the Red Dragons in Cortland.
Grastorf is the only Bombers to make his starting debut in a Cortaca game and threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Not a bad debut if you ask me. Though he did not perform as well in the playoff against Curry, throwing for just 102 yards and two touchdowns, his Cortaca performance proves he has what it takes to step up in the big games. With an offseason and preseason’s worth of training, Grastorf should be exactly what the Bombers need leading the huddle.
The defense is looking strong again as well after being battered by injuries last year. Linebacker Matt Scalice is returning for a graduate year and will be the captain on the defensive side of the ball, providing an experienced signal caller for the Bomber defense.
With all these pieces in place, I’m sure the football team is itching to get rolling against St. Lawrence next weekend. And unfortunately us fans will have to wait until the 19th to catch our first glimpse of the Blue and Gold as they take on Widener in the first home game of the season in week three.
Share Leave a Comment
Hello world!
August 29, 2009 12:00 pm by extrapoint
The Ithacan Blogs is the newest blog for The Ithacan. Check back soon for new posts!