MADISON, N.J. – The Ithaca College field hockey team got the 2019 season underway on Friday evening when it traveled to the Garden State for the opening day of the Drew Fall Festival. The Bombers faced Cabrini in the first leg of the weekend back-to-back on Friday and did not take long to showcase a dynamic offense in a 4-3 triumph over the Cavaliers. It marked the second consecutive season that IC was able to kick off a season on a winning note.
 
Friday's contest was an interesting one, as it marked the first time in non-scrimmage action that the squad was playing under the new timing rules for NCAA Field Hockey. Instead of the two 35-minute running clock halves, the new timing system features four 15-minute quarters, while also eliminating the ability for coaches to call timeouts. The new rules made for some drastic tactical shifts, while it certainly did not seem to hamper the IC attack. The Bombers were able to control the vast majority of play on the night, finishing with a 20-to-6 shot advantage and a 13-to-5 edge in penalty corner chances. The territorial advantage translated to a four-goal scoring output that was the program's most in a season opener dating back to an eight-goal barrage against Wells to begin the 2013 season.
 
Headlining the scoring group was sophomore transfer, Morgan Mullen, who potted a pair of goals on the night. Junior striker, Kristen Rafferty, picked up where she left off a season ago, finishing with one goal and one assist. Sophomore midfielder Grace Ziehnert delivered IC's other scoring strike, converting for her first collegiate goal.
 
In goal, senior goalkeeper Savanna Lenker picked up her 20^th career victory. She finished the evening with one save, while the Cavaliers were able to put three goals of their own behind IC's talented senior.
 
It did not take long to break the ice on the 2019 campaign, as Mullen made an immediate impact in the lineup in her Ithaca debut. The second-year transfer from NCAA Division II East Stroudsburg capped off a beautiful scoring play for the first goal of the season just 6:44 into the contest. It was Rafferty who set up the play, carrying possession on the right flank and sending a cross pass through the arc. Mullen got on the end of the cross and stroked a perfect one-timer into the lower left corner to push Ithaca in front.
 
The Bombers doubled up the advantage just before the end of the opening quarter. IC's second-year talent, Ziehnert, would not be denied on the play and ultimately finished off the play in style. Working on a penalty corner sequence, Ziehnert was denied on a pair of shot attempts from the right side of the cage, before finally depositing the shot behind Cabrini keeper Noelia Ramirez on the third attempt. Ithaca finished the opening quarter with a two-goal advantage and a 5-0 shooting edge in the frame.
 
The lead evaporated quickly in the second quarter, as Cabrini struck for two goals in the span of 3:05 to tie the contest up. Olivia Sims scored first for the Cavaliers, whipping home a laser from the top of the scoring arc. Kaitlyn Martin netted the equalizer on a penalty stroke goal with 6:59 remaining in the quarter.
 
It was Mullen that reestablished the Ithaca lead, as the second-year netted her second of the night with 3:50 to play in the second. It was another newcomer to the Ithaca lineup that setup the play, as first-year Elizabeth Pillow sent a pass from the end line to the right of the cage to Mullen on the far left post. The sophomore showed deft scoring touch to deflect the pass expertly over a diving Ramirez to make the score 3-2.
 
It was Rafferty who would deliver the clinching score, labeling home a shot from the point 4:46 into the third quarter. Although Brittney Morello would pull the Cavaliers back within a goal on a tip-shot just a few moments later in the third, IC would control the majority of the possession down the stretch. IC outshot Cabrini 9-to-0 over the final 15-minutes to ensure the lead would not be threatened.
 
Ithaca returns to action tomorrow night when it faces tournament-host Drew University at 7:30 p.m.