ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Ithaca College women's soccer team is set to begin its 35th season on Saturday, September 3 when the No. 23 Bombers take on The Sage Colleges before battling New Paltz on Sunday as part of the Michelle Vargas-Robin Memorial Tournament in New Paltz, N.Y.  Ithaca will play a 16-game schedule during the 2016 campaign including seven games on the grass at Carp Wood Field.

The Bombers look to build upon last season's success after posting a 13-5-2 overall mark, which earned Ithaca an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship for the 13th straight season.

"We are looking forward to learning more about one another and discovering the personality of our team this year," said head coach Mindy Quigg who has amassed a 309-93-48 overall record since taking over as head coach of the Bombers in 1994.  "We have a strong core of returning players and a quality group of first-year students. Expectations are high and our work rate thus far has been exceptional."

Despite losing a pair of All-Americans in Kelsey King and Beth Coppolecchia to graduation, the Bombers still featured a loaded lineup including six student-athletes who were named All-Conference last season by the Empire 8.  Aimee Chimera, the reigning Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and a Third-Team All-Region selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2015, will anchor a strong back line for the Bombers, which ranked second among all Empire 8 teams last season after allowing just 15 goals in 20 contests.  Flanking Chimera on the back line is Lindsey Parkins who appeared in 17 games last season and was named Second-Team All-Conference for the second time in the last two years after helping Ithaca earn nine shutout wins in 2015.

Offensively, the Bombers return six of their top eight scorers including Holly Niemiec who tallied 18 points in her junior year before being named First-Team All-Conference.  Taylor Baranowsky, Jess Demczar and Megan Nash, who were each recognized by the Empire 8 with an Honorable Mention All-Conference nod last season, will play a pivotal role in 2016 as the trio combined for 22 total points and 40 starts.

In goal, the Bombers' net minders were among the nation's best last season with a 0.75 goals against average and a .891 save percentage. 

After its opening tournament, Ithaca kick-off the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, September 7 against Oneonta at Carp Wood Field before hosting Farmingdale State four days later on September 11.

The Bombers will continue their home stand on September 17 when they take on Cortland in the Upstate Collegiate Cup while Rochester and William Smith will battle it out on the other side of the bracket.  The consolation and championship games will be played on Sunday, September 18 at a place to be determined.

IC will open Empire 8 play at home on September 24 against Hartwick before a quick stop in Utica to battle the Pioneers on September 28.  The Bombers will enjoy a week off before playing four of their next five games at home between October 4 and October 18.  Ithaca will play back-to-back home contests beginning with R.I.T. on October 4 followed by Alfred on October 8.  IC will then travel to Houghton two days later to play the Highlanders before facing Nazareth and Elmira to close out the home portion of the 2016 campaign. 

The Bombers will conclude their regular season with three consecutive road games.  IC will play St. John Fisher in Rochester on October 22, Misericordia in Dallas, Pa. on October 22 and Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. on October 29.