ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team made the quick turnaround on Sunday afternoon when it played its second game in less than 24 hours, facing SUNY Cortland on a pristine fall afternoon at Higgins Stadium. Unfortunately, the Bombers were held in check by the talented Red Dragons, falling in a 3-0 decision to drop to 6-4 on the season.
 
Coming off a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind victory over St. Lawrence in a crucial Liberty League contest on Saturday, the Bombers hoped to carry the momentum into the field hockey installment of the Cortaca rivalry on Sunday. It was the 65^th all-time meeting between the two programs, which entered the day tied with identical 31-31-2 records. The Red Dragons pulled ahead in the series for the first time in many years, scoring once in the first half and adding two late goals to seal the game in the 3-0 final. It was the second time in 10 contests this season that IC failed to get on the scoresheet.
 
Cortland led from almost the opening whistle, as the visitors got on the scoreboard just 2:33 into the game. Working on their first penalty corner opportunity of the game, Meg Redmond entered the ball to Dani Barto at the left point. Barto sent a quick pass to Anna Branch at the opposite point with the latter loading up a hard shot towards goal. IC keeper Savanna Lenker looked to have it measured, but Cortland's Jess Gibaldi got a slight deflection on the shot as it neared the cage, redirecting it into the bottom right corner of the cage.
 
The fast start for the visitors translated into an back-and-forth coast-to-coast game during the middle portion of the first half. Both sides looked to push the pace, but it was Cortland that was better able to generate shot attempts with its possession. The Red Dragons held a 9-to-2 edge in shot attempts during the first 35-minutes. Lenker did well to keep IC within striking distance, turning away five Cortland shots on goal to keep the deficit 1-0.
 
The Bombers came out with purpose to begin the second half, enjoying their best stretch of play in the game in attempt to bring the score back to level terms. IC posted eight of its 10 second-half shot attempts during the opening 10 minutes of the half, earning seven penalty corners during that stretch. However, Cortland keeper Kailynne Reinoehl and a scrappy Red Dragons defense were able to keep the Bombers at bay.
 
Cortland gained a foothold on possession as the half continued, scoring twice with under 20 minutes to play to widen the advantage. Barto scored a goal off a rebound in a penalty corner situation with 17:26 to play, while Gibaldi scored her second of the contest just under four minutes later to make it 3-0.
 
Lenker finished with 12 saves in the game in the losing effort. Amanda Schell and Maddy Ryan each fired four shot attempts, while Maria McGloin added two. Michaela Donohue and Meg Dowd each fired one shot apiece.
 
Ithaca returns to action next Saturday, October 7, when it travels to face nationally-ranked Skidmore in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Start time for the contest is 2:00 p.m.