After dropping its home opener, 3–0, against the Kean University Cougars on Sept. 1, the Ithaca College field hockey team went on to earn two victories on the road before finally bringing one home. The Bombers toppled the Oswego State Lakers, 6–0, in a dominant showing Sept. 8 at Higgins Stadium that saw action from six different goal-scorers.
The Bombers dominated possession time from the first whistle, immediately maintaining possession in Laker territory and earning two consecutive penalty corners to gain some momentum. It did not take long before the Bombers found the back of the cage, with junior midfielder Meara Bury earning her second goal of the season less than three minutes into play.
The offensive opportunities did not stop there for the squad in blue, retaining possession without fail and outshooting the Lakers, 4–0, before hitting twine once again at the 10:12 mark. Assisted by junior striker Natalie Descalso, senior striker Avery Moses netted her first goal of the season, putting the Bombers up by two.
Less than 60 seconds later, junior midfielder Catherine Papa decided the two-goal lead was not quite enough for the Bombers, slotting yet another ball past the Lakers’ first-year student goalkeeper KY Phillips with less than four minutes remaining in the period. After dominating offensive play and outshooting the Lakers, 8–0, the initial quarter closed out with the Bombers leading 3–0.
The Lakers opened the second period having made clear defensive adjustments, holding the Bombers to a stalemate in possession despite some clear threats from the squad in blue. The Bombers put eight shots on Phillips during the frame, but failed to find the back of the cage and build on their lead. Both teams ceded to the intermission without score.
Following the halftime break, Phillips continued to keep the Lakers afloat, coming up with crucial saves against the Bombers’ relentless offense. The Bombers earned seven penalty corners in 14 minutes, each of them falling flat against the Lakers’ stifling defense.
However, Descalso continued to be a key playmaker for the Bombers, finally finding the net off of the team’s eighth and final corner of the frame. Descalso tallied her first goal of the season and 12th of her career with 36 seconds of play remaining, ultimately sending the Bombers into the final frame leading 4–0.
The Bombers wasted no time extending their lead, almost immediately scoring again at the start of the final period. Sophomore striker Brenna Schoenfeld netted her first of the season just over four minutes into play. The Bombers used their lead to get creative in the midfield, utilizing their skilled defensive line to facilitate redirection and continue to find offensive opportunities.
A late-game yellow card on the Lakers would put them a woman-down for the final five minutes of play, but the Bombers refused to let up. Descalso uncorked a drive from the 16-yard arc to find junior striker Juliana Valli on the post, who tipped the ball into the cage seemingly with ease with less than four minutes remaining. The goal marked Valli’s third of the season and ultimately capped off a dominant 6–0 victory for the Bombers.
Head coach Kaitlyn Wahila said the offensive display was a true representation of a full-team effort, with six different contributors scoring during the competition, five of which were assisted.
“It takes the entire team to make those things happen,” Wahila said. “A lot of work goes into those goals; we have to be able to play really good defense and move the ball really well to be able to get the ball inside of our attack end, so it literally takes a village.”
The Bombers will next take on the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons in an under-the-lights matchup 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Higgins Stadium.
