ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team was back on the turf at Higgins Stadium on Saturday afternoon when it played host to St. Lawrence in the Bombers' first-ever Liberty League contest. IC netted a goal in each half and used smothering defense down the stretch to best the Saints 2-1 and even their Liberty League record at 1-1. The victory improved Ithaca's record to 4-0 on home turf this season.
 
"Today was a total team effort," first-year head coach Kaitlyn Wahila said postgame. "We set out to play a complete 70-minute game against a talented St. Lawrence team. Our ability to maintain possession in the second half gave us the confidence to manage the last eight minutes of the game after St. Lawrence took a time out. I am really happy with the way the team persevered today."
 
Saturday's Liberty League home opener had all the hallmarks of a crucial must-win game for both sides. Trying to avoid an 0-2 start to the League season and with several challenging matchups against the upper-echelon of the conference ahead, the Bombers looked to assert themselves on home turf. In the clutch, it was Ithaca's two senior standouts that came up with the plays to help lift the home side to an important win that keeps IC firmly within contention for a postseason spot.
 
Senior midfielder Amanda Schell scored a 33^rd-minute equalizer, while senior striker Michaela Donohue put the Bombers ahead for good in the 49^th-minute to account for Ithaca's two goals in the hard-fought victory. A stout IC defense, led by juniors Kimmy Briscoe, Maddie Keppel and Kaylou Stoddard made the lead stand up down the stretch. Sophomore keeper Savanna Lenker stopped four St. Lawrence shots to notch her sixth victory of the season.
 
The first-half was played quite close to the vest, as the two sides kept play bottled up in the midfield for the most part. Incursions into the two attacking zones were few and far between during the opening 20 minutes, while shots were hard to come by. It was the visitors that were able to strike first on a 27^th-minute goal by Tori Shaffer.
 
Earning possession in the IC end for one of the first times in the half, St. Lawrence was able to cash in to score an early lead. With several players occupying the attacking zone, Shaffer was able to battle for a loose ball in the high slot. Although her initial thrust towards goal was thwarted by the Ithaca defense, she was able to remain strong on the ball, tucking a shot past Lenker and inside the right post to lift the Saints to the 1-0 lead.
 
While goals late in the first half have hampered the Bombers through parts of this season, IC turned the script with a goal just before the break to bring the two sides on level terms through 35-minutes.
 
As the first half continued, Ithaca began to find increasing amounts of space attacking down the right sideline. Although IC struggled to make a connecting pass in the final third of the field on a few of those opportunities, the squad finally solved the equation with 2:18 to go in the half. Junior striker Meg Dowd received an area pass from junior Maria McGloin down the right flank and charged up the right sideline. Before the defender could close on her, she whipped a hard pass to Schell, who was left uncovered in the slot about five-yards from goal. The senior controlled the pass on first touch and whipped a low shot through a screen of two St. Lawrence defenders in front with the thumping in the left side of the cage. The goal was Schell's second of the season.
 
The late score clearly gave Ithaca the momentum advantage heading into the break. IC came out on fire to begin the second frame, firing five shots in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Although Saints' keeper Sophie Cardenali was able to keep the contest tied, it seemed only a matter of time before IC connected for the go-ahead tally. That eventual score came in the 49^th-minute, as IC's senior duo connected on a highlight goal.
 
With Ithaca hemming the Saints in their own defensive third, Schell intercepted a zone-exit pass and came streaking down the left side of the field. She stopped well short of the shooting zone and loaded up a rocket of a ball strike towards the cage. Donohue was in perfect position at the left post to deflect the ball into the netting, giving Cardenali no chance of save. The score was Donohue's ninth of the year.
 
The lead was more than enough for Ithaca to hold onto. The Bombers' defense suffocated the St. Lawrence offense down the stretch, limiting St. Lawrence to just three shot attempts during the second half and only one shot attempt after the go-ahead tally.
 
"It was exciting to have our two seniors help us pull out the win with both scoring a goal," Wahila said. "We will continue to work on executing our game plan, as we head into another great matchup tomorrow versus SUNY Cortland."
 
Ithaca is back in action at Higgins Stadium tomorrow afternoon when it welcomes SUNY Cortland for a 1:00 p.m. start.