ITHACA, N.Y. – For the first time since 2007, the Ithaca College field hockey team defeated the University of Rochester by a score of 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Higgins Stadium. Rochester entered today's contest ranked 15th in the latest NFHCA Top 20 Poll with a record of 5-0. Over the prior seven meetings, Rochester had outscored the Bombers, 29-11.
Coming into today's game, Rochester scored 16 goals and only allowed two. The Yellowjackets ranked eighth nationally in goals against average and 21st in scoring margin.
The Bombers netted the game-winner on a corner with just over 17 minutes left in the first half. Junior
Lauren Delia started the corner with a pass to senior
Caitlin O'Brien, who then sent the ball to senior
Olivia Salindong for an open shot. As Salindong's attempt was headed towards the net, junior
Colleen Keegan-Twombly redirected the strike past Rochester's goalkeeper for her fourth goal of the season. It was also the first assist for Salindong this year.
Rochester put together numerous chances to knot the game up, taking five shots over the final eight minutes of the period. Four of those five shots were saved by junior
Katie Lass, who made five stops in the first half.
In the second half, Ithaca vamped up its already stingy defense on the afternoon and only allowed the Yellowjackets to put three shots on goal. Over the final 35 minutes, Rochester earned eight corners, but could only produce one shot on target. Ithaca's four backs – O'Brien, senior
Laurel Shnider, junior
Hannah Gerber and freshman
Maddie Keppel made things difficult for Rochester anytime the ball entered the zone.
Rochester's final opportunity to send the game into overtime came on a corner in the final minute of play, but Ithaca packed all 11 players in the zone and did not allow the Yellowjackets a chance to get off a shot.
Lass was equally impressive in goal, finishing the game with eight saves. The eight saves matches a season-best in what was her fourth win of the season.
Ithaca remains at home on Saturday, Sept. 19 for an Empire 8 Conference matchup with St. John Fisher College at 1 p.m.
#ICVictory
