In its second Liberty League matchup of the 2024 season, the No. 19 Ithaca College field hockey team fell 2-1 to the William Smith College Herons on Oct. 5. The loss drops the Bombers’ record to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The Herons opened the first quarter with an offensive composure that rattled the Bombers’ defense. Their steady push into Ithaca territory was enough to put pressure on senior and junior defenders Bella McCollister and Reese Abrahamson early in the quarter, but the lockdown pair was able to redistribute the ball to the Bombers’ offense.
Halfway through the first frame, the Bombers gained offensive momentum and began to create more scoring opportunities. Sophomore striker Brady Sullivan was the first to test the Herons’ goalkeeper, but William Smith’s defense kept the scoreboard at zeroes.
Despite controlling possession time and out-shooting the Herons 6-1 in the first quarter, the Bombers failed to convert before the frame concluded.
The Bombers’ momentum carried swiftly into the second quarter, immediately taking control of the ball and pressing into Heron territory. Four minutes into play, the squad in blue earned their fourth penalty corner of the competition. Senior strikers Natalie Descalso and Juliana Valli each put a shot on goal before a Heron foul put the Bombers on the goal line once again — this time with capital.
Assisted by senior midfielder Emma Garver, senior midfielder Meara Bury deflected the ball past the goalkeeper’s hip to find the back of the cage and put the Bombers in the lead, 1-0. The goal lit a fire for the William Smith defense, who prevented any further shooting for the remainder of the first half.
The Bombers’ defense, however, was just as diligent, and they held the Herons to zero shots on the quarter, sending the Bombers into intermission with a one-point lead.
The Herons carried their newfound fire into the second half, opening the third quarter with a more controlled offense. The Bombers tallied two shots within the first three minutes before making way for William Smith opportunities.
Stemming from a drive in the midfield, the Herons managed to break their drought. Just over six minutes into the third quarter, William Smith’s first-year student striker Mia Batchelder managed to redirect a 35-yard drive past sophomore goalkeeper Maeve Clark. The goal knotted the score at 1-1, with just over eight minutes remaining.
The Herons rattled off three more shots in the frame, but Clark anchored the Bombers’ defense in the cage.
“Maeve definitely excels in her presence and communication in the backfield,” associate head coach Mo Ordnung said. “She has a very strong voice and hockey IQ. She can go out and handle situations on her own and she can also stand tall and maneuver with her defense.”
Looking to steer clear of overtime, William Smith did not let up its pressure well into the fourth quarter. The Herons earned their first penalty corner of the day four minutes into the frame. A Heron striker put a quick drive on the cage from the right side of the arc, but Clark’s glove was quicker.
Three additional penalty corners later, the Herons had the Bombers’ defense on the ropes. With just under five minutes remaining, William Smith’s fourth penalty corner of the competition managed to find a hole and put the Herons in the lead, 2-1.
The Bombers earned two consecutive penalty corners with a minute remaining in regulation, but it was enough to tie the score before the clock read zeroes.
“William Smith always has a really strong gameplan and, in the first half, we were really prepared for that,” Ordnung said. “They had to make some adjustments and we were just a little bit slow to meet them.”
The Bombers will look to bounce back when they take on the No. 18 University of Rochester Yellowjackets at 5 p.m. Oct. 12 in Rochester, New York.
