2019 Schedule | Liberty League Preseason Release
 
ITHACA, N.Y. – With just a handful of days separating the Ithaca College field hockey team from its 52^nd season of varsity competition, the Bombers are set to enter the 2019 campaign with a great deal of optimism. Coming off a 2018 season which witnessed the program achieve 13 victories, tying the 2015 team for the highest single-season win total in over two decades, Ithaca is looking to keep its upward trajectory churning when play gets underway on Friday evening. For the second consecutive season, IC will open the season in the Garden State when it heads to Drew University for a two-game set. The Bombers will open the season with a neutral-site battle against Cabrini on Friday, August 30, at 5:45 p.m., while they conclude the two-game set the following evening with a 7:30 p.m. clash against the hosts.
 
The 2019 campaign will be head coach Kaitlyn Wahila's third season at the helm of the program and expectations are high that IC will field its most dynamic team in Wahila's young tenure on South Hill. The Bombers were picked by the Liberty League's coaches to finish in a tie for third in the preseason release that was published on Tuesday. It is the first time that the Bombers have been picked to finish among the top half of the league standings since joining as a league affiliate in 2017. The 2019 installment of the Bombers will certainly have a different feel to them, as the program graduated eight major contributors in a large senior class this past spring. Despite the loss in returning production from that large senior group, IC still has a wealth of returning talent coming back to the fold this fall. Several returning starters and key contributors return to the group, while a year of seasoning could have many Bombers poised for a big breakout on the stat sheet this season.
 
"Our team has worked incredibly hard during preseason to build confidence in our formation, integrate our newcomers into the system and set high standards for our 2019 season," Wahila said. "We look forward to trusting the process as we elevate our game play; one game, one training session at a time."
 
Perhaps the greatest asset that the team has shown during the preseason is its understanding of the strategies and philosophies that the coaching staff has implemented over the past two campaigns. Entering her third season, Wahila has been able to fully integrate her tactics into the program, which has allowed the team to think the game faster and a higher level than ever before. This has allowed the team's athleticism and stick skills to really shine through as the preseason has continued.
 
The coaching staff has also benefitted from the addition of graduate-assistant Anna Bottino who has added another quality resource of knowledge and experience for the players. Bottino was a four-year starter for Division I University of Albany, seeing action in defensive and more attacking roles during her career. She amassed 88 points in 84 career games throughout her four seasons for the Great Danes, shining brightly in both postseason competition and as a player on the U-21 USA Junior National Team. Combined with the return of assistant coaches Mo Ordnung and Jim Schutt, Wahila's staff is in perfect position to take the team to the Liberty League postseason for the first time this fall.
 
"I am honored to be working with a high level coaching staff with remarkable experience that has already had a huge impact on advancing our program in a positive direction," Wahila exclaimed.
 
 
The 2019 slate once-again features many top-flight programs among the 18-game regular-season schedule. Two Liberty League programs appeared in the NFHCA Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released on Tuesday. Vassar checked in at eighth in the initial Top-20, while University of Rochester was right behind in ninth. Additionally, two other 2019 opponents received votes in the poll in Skidmore and local rival SUNY Cortland. IC will get two of those opponents at home, as SUNY Cortland comes to Higgins Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. tilt on Wednesday, September 18, while No. 9 Rochester invades South Hill in a likely Senior Day clash on Sunday, October 27.
 
"Every game is important this year, not one game is special," Wahila concluded. "We are excited about Team 52 and seeing how our strong leadership among all the class years will produce results on the field."
 
The following is a position-by-position breakdown of what to look for from the Bombers this season.
 
Goalkeeper
A major reason IC is expecting to take the next jump into the upper echelon of the Liberty League is the strength it possesses in the cage. The Bombers return two keepers this fall in senior captain Savanna Lenker and sophomore Macy Brandwein.
 
Headlining the group is Lenker, who ranked among the nation's elite keepers in several key statistical categories a season ago. Lenker finished the season with her 0.89 goals-against average good for 13th-best in the country, while her .867 save percentage mark ranked third among eligible keepers. She finished the season with 117 total saves and seven clean sheets to her credit. Lenker was named an All-Liberty League First Team and NFHCA All-Region First Team honoree at the conclusion of the season. Entering her third year as the primary starter, Lenker has been a strong leadership voice in IC's defensive third, which will have a younger look this fall.
 
Brandwein moves up to the primary reserve role behind Lenker. She did not see action in her first collegiate season, but has showcased a confident and calm demeanor in her second collegiate preseason.
 
Back
The defense will certainly have a bit of a youth movement in 2019, as the Bombers graduated four players that saw action in some capacity at the position last fall in Kaylou Stoddard, Kimmy Briscoe, Maddie Keppel, and Shelby McDavid. Despite the significant attrition, the Bombers have several returning players that were major contributors a season ago.
 
Leading the way among the returners is the sophomore duo of Anna Parrish and Victoria Sestito who both saw some starting action last fall. The duo each recorded double-digit appearances and will likely hold down starting roles once the season gets underway.
 
Parrish made 16 appearances and amassed over 630 minutes of game action during her debut season in 2018. She made her impact felt on both ends, scoring her first collegiate goal in a victory over Brockport to conclude the regular season and registering two defensive saves during the year. Sestito made 11 appearances and registered just shy of 400 minutes of game action as a rookie. Her physical play and ability to push possession out of the back certainly stood out as a first-year and Sestito looks poised for a breakout season as a sophomore.
 
Another player that looks poised for a breakout is junior returner Katie Dick. Ithaca's lone upperclassman in the back appeared in just one contest a season ago with IC's backline loaded with more senior options. The 2019 season figures to be the one that she steps into a more formidable role. Standing at 5-foot-9 and possessing one of the longest reaches among IC's defensive players, Katie Dick has had an excellent preseason and will look to carry that momentum into the year.
 
Returning junior Maya Rodgers also makes a shift to the position group this season after serving as a reserve striker role for her first two collegiate seasons. She appeared in 12 contests and amassed 150-plus minutes of game action a year ago. Rodgers also got on the stat sheet with an assist in a win over Susquehanna. Look for to make an immediate impact this fall.
 
Three newcomers also join the backline corps for the Bombers in 2019 in Meghana Caron, Molly Malone, and Allison Egan. Caron arrives from Clifton Park, New York, where she helped Shenendehowa to Section and Class A State Championships during her time with the program. Malone also achieved several accolades during her high school career at Scotia-Glenville, while Egan was a three-year standout, earning several honors at West Morris Central in New Jersey.
 
Midfield
The midfield group figures to be the strongest cast of talent Wahila has had in her three years with the program. Although the squad does need to replace some production provided from 2019-graduates Maddy Ryan, Emily Vallee and Keppel, IC returns many key contributors that made strong impressions a season ago.
 
Headlining the midfield group is Ithaca's other returning senior in Kendall Keil. The Camden, New York, native continued to hold down an important two-way role last fall, appearing in all 20 contests and registering nearly 1,000 minutes played. She set a new career high with three goals, which included a scoring brace in IC's thrilling victory at SUNY Cortland. Don't be surprised to see that number elevate again this fall, as she has posted a strong preseason.
 
Three other players who saw extensive time in the midfield are also back for 2019 in junior Arleigh Rodgers, as well as sophomores Grace Ziehnert and Jacqueline Mirabile. All three players bring unique stick skills, athleticism and physicality to the position and look poised to continue to evolve into forces for the program with a season of significant action under their belts.
 
Rodgers made 11 starts and saw action in all 20 contests last fall, registering just shy of 900 minutes of game action. She tallied the game-winning goal in Ithaca's ECAC Quarterfinal Round triumph over Alvernia, which was the junior's first career goal. She also continued to be a very solid defensively. Look for her to have a great impact on both ends this season.
 
Mirabile immediately showed her game-breaking ability during her rookie campaign, marking 10 points that was best among IC's midfield returners. She started 13 contests for the Bombers in 2018, while she saw action in all 20 contests in total. She finished the season with four goals, three of which proved decisive in wins over Drew, Susquehanna and SUNY Oneonta, while she also added two helpers. Expect Mirabile to once again be a big source of scoring for Ithaca moving forward this fall.
 
Ziehnert came on strong during the latter half of the season. She finished the year with four starts and 17 game appearances, overall. Although she did not crack the score sheet for her first collegiate point as a first-year, she certainly made an impression with her two-way play and seems poised for further growth in her second year with the program.
 
Four newcomers will also join the midfield ranks this fall in first-year players: Brianna Lennon, Nicole Fortunato, Amberly Christiansen, and Arla Davis. The group brings an interesting blend of speed and height to the unit.
 
Lennon was a three-year standout at Eastport South Manor, earning several honors including Newsday All-Long Island Second Team during her prep career. Davis and Christiansen both bring an imposing physical presence to the group. Both players bring a unique set of skills to the position group and have looked strong in the preseason. Fortunato was also a three-year letter-winner for Hillsborough in New Jersey, which included First Team All-Conference and All-County honors as a senior. She will look to make a recovery from an injury and will likely be held out from competition this season.
 
Striker
Much like the other position groups, IC has a similar theme going on up top. While the team did graduate leading scorer Maria McGloin '19 (9G-8A-26PTS) and another significant striker in Meg Dowd '19 (5G-4A-14PTS), the Bombers do return a considerable amount of scoring from its 2018 lineup as well.
 
Headlining the group is junior Kristen Rafferty who is set for her third collegiate campaign in 2019. Rafferty broke out in a big way during her sophomore season, ranking second on the squad behind McGloin with seven goals and 14 total points. She was an offensive dynamo, appearing in all 20 contests and amassing over 800 minutes of game action. A shifty player that has a penchant for finding the soft spots in an opponent's defensive third, Rafferty figures to be IC's go-to player on attack this fall.
 
Another returning junior who also saw significant action last fall is Natalie Milliken. She appeared in 12 games throughout the course of the season, amassing over 150 minutes of game action in specialist attacking roles. Milliken tallied her first collegiate points a season ago, marking a goal against SUNY Oneonta and registering an assist in the postseason win over Alvernia.
 
Among the sophomore returning group that saw action in 2018 is Samantha Horowitz, who certainly made her presence felt as a rookie. Horowitz ranks fourth among returning players with five points after scoring twice and adding one assist in her debut campaign. She appeared in 19 of IC's 20 contests, amassing 457 minutes of game action.
 
Junior Kristina Morris and sophomore Kyra Feick are returning players that saw limited action a season ago. Morris appeared in one contest, while Feick tallied 69 minutes over three contests last fall.
 
Three newcomers figure to bolster the attacking group in sophomore transfer Morgan Mullen and incoming first-years Jessica Scopellite and Elizabeth Pillow.
 
Mullen is an intriguing prospect as she joins the program after one season playing at NCAA Division II East Stroudsburg. Mullen made six appearances for the program last fall, which included her first collegiate goal in a win over Seton Hill. She would help the program to a National Runner-Up finish at the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
Scopellite is another New Jersey prospect, as she starred as a two-sport athlete for Peddie High School. She earned multiple field hockey accolades during her career, including: CJFHCA Honorable Mention, All-Trentonian Prep Team, All-Trentonian All-Star First Team, and NJ.com All-Prep A. Pillow arrives from West Hartford, Connecticut, where she earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State honors during her senior season.