UTICA, N.Y.– The Ithaca College field hockey team put on an offensive display against Utica University, winning 5-1.
 
The Bombers improved to 8–2 in the non-conference matchup, as senior striker Morgan Mullen scored two goals, while senior striker Elizabeth Pillow, graduate student midfielder Jacqueline Mirabile, and sophomore striker Juliana Valli added insurance. Graduate student goalkeeper Macy Brandwein, fresh off another Liberty League award, stopped three of four shots on goal.
 
In the beginning of the game, Utica got off to a good start, forcing the Bombers into a foul and getting a penalty corner less than a minute into the game. The Pioneers put a shot wide, ending their chance. Ithaca would go down the field and get their first corners shortly after, but senior striker Elizabeth Pillow's two shots were saved, as were junior striker Avery Moses' and sophomore midfielder Meara Bury's shots. The Pioneers weathered the storm and had one last chance in the first that was stopped by Brandwein, as the quarter would end scoreless.
 
In the second quarter, the Bombers offense did not let up at all. The Bombers would have eight shots with six on goal, while not allowing a single shot. They also had eight penalty corners to Utica's zero. Pillow started the period off by hitting a post and having a shot stopped by a defensive save just three minutes in. Senior midfielder Amberly Christiansen also had a chance, but the Pioneers came up with another defensive save. With five minutes left, Ithaca would pepper Utica with shots the rest of the frame. The Bombers had four penalty corners in a 30-second span, with their best chance coming off a shot from senior midfielder Brianna Lennon but was stopped by a defensive save. The Pioneers were never able to clear, as Mullen was awarded a penalty stroke with just under four minutes left in the half and cashed in on the chance. 
 
The Bombers picked up right where they left off to begin the second half, dominating possession and shots. On the first shot of the third quarter, Pillow received a pass from Bury, and scored to put the Bombers up 2–0. Three minutes later, Ithaca trapped Utica in their own defensive zone, getting three corners in 20 seconds. Two shots were saved, and another was blocked, but Mirabile cleaned up a rebound off a shot from Lennon, putting the Bombers ahead 3–0. 
 
To start the fourth quarter, for good measure, Ithaca kept up the pressure on the Pioneers. After a corner around a minute in, Mullen tallied her second goal of the game off an assist from sophomore striker Juliana Valli. The Bombers nearly extended their lead to five immediately after, but a shot from Christiansen was blocked, one from Valli was high, and another from sophomore striker Natalie Descalso was wide. The Pioneers would eventually get on the board, breaking through the Bombers defense with just over five minutes left in the game. But the Bombers would get their four-goal lead back in the final minutes after Valli scored her second goal of the year.
 
The Bombers dominated the Pioneers throughout the game, leading in shots 28–4, shots on goal 18–3, and penalty corners 23–2. Brandwein had a shutout streak of 126 minutes and one second, her second longest streak of the year, snapped late in the fourth quarter.

The Bombers next game is at 1 p.m. on October 8^th at Troy, N.Y. for an in-conference game against RPI.