On Sept. 14, also known as National Field Hockey Day, spectators were given the gift of a top-20 matchup, and that matchup did not disappoint. The No. 17 Ithaca College Field Hockey team took down the No. 9 team in Division III, York College, with just one lethal penalty corner to start the game — and end it — at 1-0.
The Bombers got onto the scoreboard early when senior midfielder Emma Garver sent a laser of a pass from the top of the circle to a diving senior midfielder Meara Bury, who buried it in the back of the net. That was just under a minute and a half in, and it gave the Bombers a whole lot of confidence for the remainder of the game. Head coach Kaitlyn Wahila said she had nothing but confidence in her players.
“I knew Meara could do it, she’s very focused on making sure that corner is a goal,” Wahila said.
The defense-oriented game was a classic midfield battle that lasted all four quarters. The Bombers may have led on the scoreboard, but on the field, the two teams looked equally matched.
“We just really fed off each other’s energy, and we were working really hard for each other,” Bury said.
Not only did the Spartans out-shoot the Bombers 7-4, they also generated more corners, with a difference of 5-2.
The Spartans kept it close and even had a few shots of their own. With 11:48 left in the game, the Spartans rattled off a flurry of shots in the circle, but sophomore goalie Maeve Clark stood tough in-net and the defense stepped up.
This game came in the midst of a losing streak for the Bombers. The team lost two tough road contests in a row to SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Cortland.
“It definitely gives us a new sense of urgency and motivation continuing forward,” Bury said.
The game was dedicated to Garver’s father, who passed away from cancer of an unknown primary in 2011. The Bombers wanted to raise awareness about this significant — but largely unknown — disease. It was even more special that the lone goal of the game was assisted by Garver. The care from Wahila was shown in a post-game embrace between her and Garver.
“How we treat each other off the field will have a direct impact on how we execute on the field,” Wahila said.
The Bombers improved their record to 4-2. Their next game is 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at SUNY Brockport.
