ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey battled No. 5 William Smith College for 70 minutes on Wednesday evening at Higgins Field but wound up on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision. With the loss, Ithaca is now 6-3, while William Smith remains unbeaten at 9-0.

William Smith entered tonight's contest as the nation's top scoring offense with 5.38 goals per game. On the other side, Ithaca ranked second in the country in goals against average at 0.49 and third in save percentage at .913.

The Herons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute after the initial shot on a corner was saved by junior Katie Lass. The rebound went off to the right where a Heron was waiting to put in the goal.

Just six minutes later, junior Colleen Keegan-Twombly put in her fifth goal of the season to knot the contest up at 1-1. Senior Olivia Salindong picked up the assist on the score after her shot was stopped by Keegan-Twombly and re-directed in off a corner.

Lass made seven saves in the first half to keep the contest tied at 1-1, and finished the game with a season-high 10 saves.

The Bombers had a chance to take their first lead of the game early in the second half off a corner. Senior Caitlin O'Brien sent a shot towards goal, which ricocheted up in the air and over William Smith's goalkeeper, but a defender was waiting on the goal line to make a defensive save.

Ithaca had two more opportunities to go ahead after a green and yellow card were assessed to William Smith, but Ithaca was unable to capitalize on the chances. The green card was handed out in the 49th minute, while the yellow card took place in the 52nd minute.

With just under 12 minutes left in regulation, William Smith regained the lead at 2-1 on a backhanded goal for the eventual game-winner.

William Smith took 19 shots in the game with 12 on goal, while Ithaca fired off seven shots. The Herons also led in penalty corners, 12-6.

The Bombers remain at home on Oct. 7 against Wells College at 4 p.m., and then host Elmira on the 10th and Stevens on the 11th.