GENEVA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team continued its difficult stretch of Liberty League play on Sunday afternoon when it traveled to Geneva, N.Y., to face William Smith. Although Ithaca took an early lead in the contest, a rally by the Herons helped the home side pull away for a 4-1 final that sent IC to its third straight League defeat.
 
The Bombers have struggled to generate offense during this brutal stretch in the schedule that featured all three of the Liberty League's preseason favorites in nationally-ranked Skidmore, University of Rochester, and William Smith. IC entered the day looking to snap a scoreless streak that has spanned the past three contests and did so with a goal right off the jump on Sunday.
 
IC withstood an early barrage by the Herons on the strength of excellent goalkeeping by sophomore Savanna Lenker. IC's keeper turned away three early shot attempts in the opening 10 minutes. When IC made its first incursion into the attacking zone it capitalized. In the 15^th minute, IC earned its first two penalty corner opportunities of the game and found the back of the cage on the second of the chances. Kendall Keil inserted the ball and later fed a pass to Brooke Novello who tipped a shot past William Smith goalie Emily King to give the visitors the early 1-0 lead.
 
Unfortunately, the momentum was only temporarily swung. The Herons equalized the game 4:30 later on a goal by Hannah Wood on another Herons penalty corner opportunity. The home side took the lead for good 3:18 before the halftime break. Katie Battaglia was the beneficiary of the eventual game-winner, scoring on a redirect of a Hannah Wood shot.
 
The Herons territorial advantage continued in the second half, as the home side held a 19-to-4 edge in shot attempts. Although Lenker turned the best effort of her career, making a career-high 18 saves in the contest, William Smith added a pair of goals during the final 35 minutes to widen the gap.
 
William Smith scored two goals 1:23 apart to turn the 2-1 deficit into a 4-1 edge that would not be overcome. Alexandra Frary scored the first goal in the 44^th minute, while Wood added her second goal of the game in the 45^th minute to complete the scoring.
 
Today's loss dropped Ithaca's record to 1-4 in Liberty League competition. The Bombers will need to win their final three League contests in order to qualify for the postseason.
 
Ithaca returns to action on Friday, October 20, when it faces Vassar College on the road in a 4:00 p.m. contest. The Brewers currently sit in fourth place in the Liberty League standings.