ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team is set to open the institution's 2016-17 athletic year when it takes the field against No. 18 University of Rochester at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 1. With the vast majority of the team returning in 2016, headlined by three Empire 8 All-Conference honorees, which includes a pair of National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Region performers, the Bombers look poised to make another serious push for a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth this year.
 
"What has immediately stood out this preseason has been the fire and drive that the team has brought to practice," head coach Tracey Houk said. "I think we all felt a sense of unfinished business with the way that the season ended last season. We are on a mission to finish our final season in the Empire 8 on top."
 
Houk, who enters her 21^st season at the helm of Ithaca's field hockey program, also found her name among the conference's honorees last season. Houk and assistant coach Maureen Ordnung were named Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year in 2015. However, both know that accomplishments and accolades from prior seasons must be set aside with the dawn of a new year. The preseason is where the foundation is laid for winning campaigns, and from all accounts this has been an excellent preseason for the Bombers.
 
"The girls have brought a ton of positive energy and have been working very hard this preseason," continued Houk. "It has been a shorter preseason than years past, so we are trying to get a lot done in a short period of time. What has helped has been the girl's fitness level coming into camp. It has been quite evident that they put in hard work during the summer and that has really paid off."
 
It also does not hurt that the Bombers return most of their key players from its 13-win team of last season. This has paid dividends not just from a talent perspective, but also an understanding of the skills and systems Houk is trying to employ.
 
"When we started out doing our drills and walkthroughs early this preseason, the team was applying the new things that we began working on last season," Houk explained. "It was great to see that carry over and it has definitely helped with the acclimation of some of the new players on the roster."
 
The leadership of the team radiates out from the cage, as the Bombers return the reigning Empire 8 Player of the Year in senior goalkeeper Katie Lass. She ranked among the top keepers in all of NCAA Division III in 2015, ranking eighth in shutouts (nine), 10^th in goals-against average (0.89), and 14^th in save percentage (.837). Lass was named an Empire 8 All-Conference First Team and NFHCA First-Team All-Region selection at the conclusion of the year.
 
The return of Lass is important, as the one area where the Bombers experienced some attrition is in its backfield ranks. Although the position group is brimming with young talent, the unit will have to contend with the graduations of Laurel Shnider, as well as all-conference and all-region honoree Caitlin O'Brien. An excellent communicator on the back end, Lass has played a pivotal role in bringing the position group up to speed this preseason.
 
Although the unit loses significant experience, it does bring back seasoned veterans in Hannah Gerber and Maddie Keppel. Gerber started in all 18 contests during her junior season in 2015, while Keppel garnered starts in 15 games as a freshman. Both players topped 1,000 minutes played and each recorded a defensive save, making immense contributions to the conference's stingiest defense.
 
Positional flexibility is one of the hallmarks of Houk's recruiting and coaching philosophy. All three levels of the team's alignment on the field relies on excellent communication to keep the transition and support cohesive. Conditioning has been of paramount importance to the midfield and forward groups and Houk has been pleased with the two units progress this preseason.
 
The attacking midfield unit is highlighted by the team's leading scorer from last season, Colleen Keegan-Twombly. The Kingston, N.Y., native pumped in 33 points on 15 goals and three assists en route to earning Empire 8 All-Conference First Team and NFHCA First-Team All-Region honors. Five of her goals were game-winners, while she scored at least one marker in nine of Ithaca's final 10 games last season. Keegan-Twombly will likely continue to lead the Bombers' offense in her senior season, entering the year with 60 career points and 25 career goals.
 
The Bombers will be aided in the advanced midfield by the return of senior Cassie Schuttrumpf. The Carmel, N.Y., native finished third on the team in scoring with 15 points on six goals and three assists last season.
 
Ithaca also welcomes back its top striker in Michaela Donohue. The rising junior had a breakout second season on South Hill in 2015, finishing second on the team with 21 points on eight goals and five assists.
 
There will be no easing into the 2016 schedule, as the Bombers open on the road against the 18^th-ranked University of Rochester. They follow that contest with another road contest against rival SUNY Cortland at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7. Ithaca's home opener comes on Saturday, September 10, when it welcomes Utica for a 1:00 p.m. clash. The Pioneers won the Empire 8 conference title two years ago in 2014.
 
Although the start to the season will be certainly be a daunting stretch for IC, Houk insists that the team is excited to get the season underway.
 
"It certainly will be a difficult test to start the year with that stretch of the schedule," Houk said. "However, everyone is getting adjusted at the beginning of the season with talented players now graduated and newcomers learning their roles. I'm confident that our team is prepared to get off to a strong start."