The Ithaca College women’s soccer team faced off against the No. 24 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. The game was energetic, with both sides showcasing impressive offensive and defensive maneuvers while the fans watched with bated breath. Graduate student midfielder Sarah Sinnott scored twice in a 2-0 win for the Bombers.
After last week’s 4-0 win against the Mount Saint Mary College Knights, it would have been easy for the Bombers to get overconfident, but they showed their excellence by continuing to fight, never letting the ball hover in one place for too long.
The first goal of the game happened about seven minutes in, assisted by junior forward Ava Detorie. The goal was sent in via a powerful headshot, blowing past the keeper and into the back of the net. It clearly tipped the scales in the Bombers’ favor, foreshadowing the rest of the game. Sinnott commented on the goal, giving credit to the opportunity she was given.
“It was perfectly leveled…with no one really around me,” Sinnott said.
For the rest of that half, however, the Red Dragons’ senior goalkeeper Kristen Spendal guarded their side, refusing to allow the Bombers another shot through her. Despite this, the Bombers continued to push. They communicated from the field, shouting out encouragement and suggestions. Those on the bench supported players on the pitch, keeping their spirits up until they exploded back onto the pitch for the second half.
Sinnott was back in the goal box within two minutes of the second half, sending the ball to the upper right corner and past the goalkeeper with an assist from junior defender Allie McCabe. For the rest of the game, the Red Dragons dug their claws into the South Hill squad’s side of the pitch whenever they could, fighting to keep possession of the ball. Even when the Bombers made it to the Cortland side of the field, the opposing players crowded the Ithaca players to stop them from getting another shot at their goal.
After the game, Sinott said she felt the team was incredibly cohesive, working hard as a unit to ensure success.
“It was a really great collective team effort,” Sinnott said. “I think it’s the first game that we’ve really put everything together for a majority of the game, so that was really exciting to see.
Head coach Mindy Quigg continued with that sentiment, noting that there was very little she would have done differently.
“The only thing I would’ve done differently was maybe rotating a little bit more in the first half because it was quite hot,” Quigg said. “I just felt like we had a really good flow going, and sometimes that can be challenging.”
At 12 p.m. Sept. 14, the Bombers will face off against the Nazareth University Golden Flyers in Rochester, New York.
With the upcoming game, Quigg noted her familiarity with the Golden Flyers and the Bombers’ willingness to come back and work just as hard.
“I know that opponent very well, so I’m very familiar with them,” Quigg said. “[The team] can be excited as much as they want tonight, but tomorrow, they’ve got to bring the same mentality they’ve been bringing to training.”
