POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team hit the road for its biggest test of the 2019 season to-date on Saturday afternoon, heading to the Hudson River Valley to face undefeated fifth-ranked Vassar. The Bombers put together their most comprehensive performance of the season to upend the Brewers for the first time this fall in a convincing 3-0 shutout. The win jettisons Ithaca to the top of the Liberty League standings at 3-0, while IC improved to 8-4 overall on the season.
 
Saturday's matchup could not have had more meaning for an IC squad that was looking to make a statement that it belonged among the league's best. Riding a 2-0 start to the league year, which included a thrilling come-from-behind overtime triumph over RPI a week ago, the Bombers certainly seemed to carry that confidence over to today's game. IC shocked the fifth-ranked hosts for a goal in each of the first two quarters and bottled up Vassar's potent attack for the majority of the game in a dominant all-around effort. While IC has been no stranger to big wins during head coach Kaitlyn Wahila's three-year tenure, this one certainly carried some extra weight as it was the program's first win over a Top-5 team in at least two decades.
 
"Today truly is a great day to be a Bomber," Wahila exclaimed following the win. "The team played incredibly poised and smart and really left everything out on the field today. We are so proud of our players for the performance they delivered today and we look forward to building from it in the weeks ahead."
 
The good vibes began right from the jump on Saturday afternoon, as Ithaca really controlled the pace and flow of the game in an impressive opening quarter. IC knew that playing from ahead would be crucial against a Vassar team that has put the clamps on its ten previous opponents to the tune of just four goals conceded in those 10 contests. For a third straight game, IC was able to strike for an first-quarter goal, as senior midfielder Kendall Keil sent IC in front with a goal in the eighth-minute of play.
 
First-year Brianna Lennon set up the scoring play with a beautiful cross-crease pass from the left wing to central slot. Keil slapped home the opener from five-yards out for her second goal of the campaign. IC would hold a 2-0 shot advantage in the quarter, taking the 1-0 lead to the first intermission.
 
Continuing to build in confidence as the game continued, Ithaca matched Vassar chance-for-chance in the second quarter, as both sides launched three shots in the frame. IC had the best early look in the quarter, but junior Kristen Rafferty was denied on a well-worked penalty corner chance by Vassar keeper Liz Rotolo.
 
The Brewers would pose their first significant scoring threat shortly thereafter. Senior keeper Savanna Lenker denied Avery Bauman on a point-blank chance with just over five-minutes remaining in the half, while junior Arleigh Rodgers also helped the cause with a huge defensive save to stymie a would-be goal from Rylie Pope on the ensuing penalty corner chance.
 
IC did not shy away from Vassar gaining its attacking form and instead responded with a big push as play headed toward halftime. First-year Meghana Caron nearly scored for a second straight week, but had her shot illegally cleared off the line by Nikki Pollotta. The Brewers were whistled for the foul, giving IC an opportunity from the penalty line. Sophomore Morgan Mullen got the nod for the chance and made no mistakes about, delivering a confidently struck penalty stroke into the corner to double Ithaca's lead before the break.
 
Holding a multi-goal edge, Ithaca played strong defense during the third quarter. The best sequence came just over five-minutes into the frame, as Lenker denied Niki Rizzo and Dara Studnitzer on a back-to-back chances to maintain the clean sheet. The two-goal edge continued into the fourth quarter when IC put things out of reach early in the frame.
 
Sophomore midfielder Jacqueline Mirabile put the icing on the win for the Bombers with a goal early in the fourth to effectively lock things up for the visitors. The goal was reminiscent of several the Bombers have converted this year on a penalty corner chance, with Mirabile redirecting a left-wing shot from sophomore Victoria Sestito.
 
Lenker dazzled over the final 13-minutes of the game to complete her third shutout of the year. She finished the quarter with four additional saves, capping her outing with seven for the game.
 
Ithaca will be back in action on Friday, October 18, when the Bombers hit the road for another titanic clash against a Liberty League stalwart in perennial contender Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds are also undefeated during the early part of the league schedule with a 2-0 record. Start time for the contest is set for 4:00 p.m.