In a midday matchup on Oct. 25, the Ithaca College field hockey team extended its winning streak to four games in a Liberty League victory against the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds. The 2-0 victory improves the Bombers’ in-conference record to 5-1 and 10-5 overall.
The first quarter saw little action on either side of the field, with both teams’ defensive units setting the tone for the game by shutting down any scoring opportunities. Senior defender Bella McCollister led the Bombers’ press from the backfield, consistently redistributing the ball into Thoroughbred territory.
McCollister was the first to find time and room on the offensive end, but she fired the ball just wide of the cage. Her shot would mark the only one in the frame.
The Bombers entered the second quarter with a new fire, immediately adjusting their offensive approach to find more scoring opportunities. Senior striker Juliana Valli put her first shot of the day on goal just under two minutes into play, which triggered a penalty corner for the Bombers. Junior striker Brenna Schoenfeld was able to notch a shot on goal, but Skidmore’s goalkeeper stifled the attack.
The Thoroughbreds found their first and only penalty corner of the afternoon about three minutes into the frame. McCollister and the rest of the Bombers’ defensive unit quickly regained possession and redistributed the ball into Skidmore’s territory.
With 32 seconds remaining in the half, the Bombers earned their fourth penalty corner of the competition. Sophomore midfielder Brooke Snider fired one from the left side of the cage that Skidmore’s goalkeeper made a diving effort to repel, but sophomore midfielder Payton Yahner was there to capitalize on the rebound.
Yahner forced the ball right back over the goal line to put the Bombers in the lead and close out the half 1-0. The goal marks the first of Yahner’s career.
“It was really an accumulation of all the hard work our team has put in and all the corner reps we’ve taken,” Yahner said. “Brooke sent a beautiful ball that just happened to rebound right into my stick and I was able to finish it.”
The start of the second half operated similarly to the start of the first — this time with the Thoroughbreds’ defensive strength on display. The Bombers dominated possession time but struggled to find many scoring opportunities. Ithaca earned three penalty corners and notched two shots on goal throughout the third quarter yet could not convert before the end of the period.
The Bombers continued to melt time off the clock well into the final quarter. Senior striker Natalie Descalso found time and room off a penalty corner just over four minutes into play, but she struck the boards just wide of the right side of the cage.
With 21 seconds remaining in regulation, however, Descalso drove the final nail into Skidmore’s coffin. From the top right side, just outside the arc, she uncorked a drive past the Skidmore goalkeeper’s left hip. Her third goal of the season concluded the Bombers’ 2-0 victory.
“We had that momentum going and I saw that sliver in the cage,” Descalso said. “Having all of my teammates rush up to me is what it’s all about. It’s a great feeling. [Associate head] coach Mo [Ordnung] was telling me I was hot so I kept my stick ready. It wouldn’t have happened without her.”
The Bombers outshot the Thoroughbreds an astounding 16-0, marking their first true shutout of the season.
The South Hill Squad will be back in action and look to extend their winning streak to five games when they take on the St. Lawrence University Saints for another Liberty League matchup at 1 p.m. Oct. 27 in Canton.
