After falling to William Smith College in the Liberty League semifinal round in 2022, the Ithaca College field hockey team met the Herons again on Nov. 5 in postseason play — this time, with a conference title on the line. After a 60-minute defensive battle, the Bombers fell, 1–0, to the reigning Liberty League champions.

The Bombers earned lengthy periods of possession early in the quarter, with junior strikers Juliana Valli and Natalie Descalso taking control of playmaking in William Smith territory. A cross-field pass from Descalso allowed Valli a 1-on-1 opportunity with Herons’ senior goalkeeper Kristen McCormick, but McCormick’s diving save denied the Bombers their first scoring opportunity.

Less than a minute later, the Herons earned two consecutive penalty corners that the Bombers’ defensive unit could not contain. 5:24 into competition, the Herons were the first to get on the board with a goal from graduate student striker Mackenzie Wodka, putting William Smith in the lead, 1–0.

The Bombers would not earn another offensive opportunity until a penalty corner was called with 2:10 remaining in the first frame. Junior midfielder Meara Bury found time and room on the right wing, but McCormick was quick to deny her drive. After a fight for possession in William Smith territory, the first quarter closed with the Herons leading, 1–0.

Adjusting to the Herons’ efficient playmaking throughout the first quarter, the Bombers entered the second period with more power in their defensive play. The majority of the frame was spent in a midfield struggle, with neither team earning significant possession. The Herons out-shot the Bombers, 2–1, but both defensive units prevented any additional scoring in the quarter. 

The Bombers took control of possession time for the first two minutes of the third quarter, quickly earning their second penalty corner of the day only 35 seconds into play. Descalso released a drive from the left wing that was set for McCormick’s stick-side hip, but the opportunity was shut down by the Herons’ defensive unit. 

In similar fashion to the second frame, the remainder of the quarter was a battle of defenses. In a turn of tides, the Bombers out-shot William Smith, 4–1, but the scoreboard saw no change. The Herons entered the final frame of regulation in the lead, 1–0.

After a green card was issued to Bombers’ first-year student striker Ainsley Grant, William Smith took over possession with a two–minute, player-up advantage. However, the Bombers’ defensive unit was stifling. No shooting occurred until the final three minutes of competition; the Bombers, desperate to bridge the gap, earned their third and final penalty corner with 2:35 remaining. 

Junior striker Emma Garver rocketed a shot from the arc, but it landed just wide of the cage. The shot would mark the Bombers’ final chance to tie the competition, ultimately falling short to the Herons for the second time in the 2023 season.

Associate head coach Mo Ordnung said despite the numbers on the scoreboard, the Bombers’ defensive line is what kept the game within reach.

“Defensively, the goal was to be tenacious, threatening and professional,” Ordnung said. “It’s really hard to get those quantities and ratios of each of them right — if you play too tenacious, you’re getting fouls; if you play too professional, you don’t put people under pressure. Getting the right mix is something we’ve been working on and I think we executed that well today.”

Despite the loss, the Bombers earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, allowing them to advance into the first round of 20. The team will travel to Beverly, Massachusetts, where it will take on the Endicott College Gulls at 4 p.m. Nov. 8.