In its return to the postseason, the Ithaca College women’s lacrosse team played like the weather, with the offense striking like lightning and defeating the Vassar College Brewers 19-10 at Higgins Stadium.
While the score suggests the Bombers ran away with the match, the first quarter saw the Brewers keep it close. Vassar scored just 29 seconds into the game, as Brewers’ sophomore midfielder Siena Wong found the back of the net. Just 44 seconds later, the Bombers responded with junior midfielder Lily Cody leveling the score.
Cody’s goal was the first of three consecutive for the Bombers. Sophomore attacker Kelly Augeri snuck it past the goalkeeper 29 seconds later. Up next, senior attacker Elizabeth Green found the back of the net, then Cody found her teammate inside the crease for the score, putting the Bombers up 3-1.
By the end of the first quarter, the Bombers shifted, becoming more physical and aggressive on defense. Cody said Vassar brought great defense in the first quarter, so IC made adjustments to their defense for the rest of the game.
“As the game progressed, we were able to pick [Vassar’s plays] apart and play our game, and I thought that’s really what changed in the second quarter,” Cody said.
The Bombers took complete control in the second. Green and Cody continued their dominance over the Brewers, with the duo each tallying an unassisted goal to start the quarter. Augeri, graduate student midfielder Lexi Kellish, junior attacker Leigh Naturale and first-year attacker Kathryn Scallon also added to the score sheet in the second frame. The first half was capped off by a beautiful pass from Naturale to Augeri inside to put the Bombers up 14-5.
IC’s defensive intensity also picked up, forcing 10 Vassar turnovers in the half. Cody said the team prepared for Vassar’s offensive game plan at practice, setting them up for defensive success during the game.
“It was really great that we were able to play team defense and really put together a game plan and do it the entirety of the game,” Cody said.
Following a brief lightning delay at halftime, the skies cleared up, but Vassar’s chances of winning were clouded by the South Hill Squad’s defensive pressures. In the first possession of the second half, the Bombers forced a turnover in their own end, leading right into another Kellish goal.
IC’s defensive firepower brought the fans to their feet as the Bombers continued to pull away from the Brewers, showcasing their strength on both sides of the ball.
Despite a couple of Vassar goals in the fourth quarter, the South Hill Squad continued to drain the clock on each of its final possessions, depleting the Brewers’ chances of a comeback. Consistent perimeter passing outside the crease left the Brewers’ defenders scrambling, accompanied by loud applause from the crowd, which knew the Bombers had secured the win.
With two full days to prepare for the next game, Cody said recovery and watching film will be key to keep the train rolling.
“[We will be] coming back with intensity to practices that we have and [going in] with extreme focus,” Cody said. “We know what we have to get done to get to the championship and we will do exactly that.”
The Bombers continue their Liberty League title defense as they host the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers in the Liberty League Championship Semifinals on May 2 at Higgins Stadium.
