The field hockey team (5–11) finished its season on a high note, with a thorough 6-1 dismantling of visiting Elmira College (2–12–1) yesterday.
Six different players contributed to the Bombers’ highest scoring game of the season. Freshman midfielder Leigh Martino continued her late-season surge with a goal and an assist, and senior forward Heather Kozimor capped off a stellar season with two assists.
The Blue and Gold fell behind early in the game when Elmira College freshman forward Ashland Hall poked in a backhand rebound off her own shot in the sixth minute to give the Soaring Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The Bombers countered 12 minutes later when Martino put in a rebound off a shot by senior forward Jessica Dillon for her first goal of the season.
The South Hill squad put together a devastating scoring stretch near the end of the first half. Sophomore forward Lindsay Flanagan cashed in a rebound on a shot from Kozimor to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead with 6:16 remaining in the first half. Junior forward Julia Conroy then converted a penalty corner more than a minute later when she deflected a shot from Kozimor to push the Bombers lead to 3-1 going into halftime.
The team dominated possession and limited scoring opportunities for Elmira College. Sophomore defender Emily Lash said the Bombers defense was able to recognize the Soaring Eagles’ strategy early and take advantage.
“We were stepping up to the ball really well today, and it was also their style that we were able to recognize,” Lash said. “They played a lot of what they call ‘bang ball’, and as long as you were in a close vicinity to their player, you could predict where they were going to be.”
The Blue and Gold tacked on three more goals in the second half and finished with 27 shots and 12 penalty corners. Flanagan said each player was fulfilling her role on the field to create a seamless attack.
“We were connecting really well, and we knew when to cut through and when to stay flat,” Flanagan said. “We always had one forward running ahead waiting for the ball.”
The Bombers were officially eliminated from postseason play after Nazareth College defeated Hartwick College in overtime yesterday.
Head Coach Tracey Houk said she was very proud of her team’s effort despite its overall record.
“Today was our last day, so it was just another reason to put it all out there,” Houk said. “There was nothing to lose, and the only thing to do was to go out and play Bomber hockey.”
