Box Score
ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca field hockey team (4-2, 1-0 Empire 8) began conference play with a 4-2 win over Nazareth (1-4, 0-1 Empire 8) Saturday at Higgins Stadium. The Bombers scored twice in each half and made two critical defensive plays in the victory.

The Bombers opened the scoring in the 18th minute as junior forward Lindsay Flanagan made a persistent play to get Ithaca on the scoreboard. She took a shot near the right post that was saved, but stayed on the rebound and pushed it over the line in traffic near the goal line. It was her third goal of the season.

Ithaca added to its lead one minute later as sophomore Natalie Lynch scored her second of the season when she deflected a shot by junior back Andrea Pace into the cage.

In the 22nd minute, Nazareth was awarded a penalty stroke, which was shot inside of the left post. Ithaca goalkeeper Kelly Singleton dove to her right and made the save by extending her arms and knocking it away with her gloves to preserve the two-goal advantage.

The Golden Flyers were able to score one minute after the missed stroke and Ithaca led 2-1 at halftime.

The Bombers re-established their two-goal lead in the 49th minute when a shot by Pace was deflected into the cage off of a Nazareth defender. It was Pace's second goal of the year.

Nazareth scored again in the 53rd minute, but Ithaca senior Julia Conroy scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season on an assist from Pace to account for the final scoring.

Pace had a career-high four points with a goal and two assists and also made a defensive save on a lifted shot that went over the head of Singleton before Pace knocked it away at knee-height off the goal line. Singleton made seven saves in the contest.

The Bombers will face #19 William Smith on the road Wednesday and will resume conference play next Saturday at Stevens.