GENESEO, N.Y. - The Ithaca College field hockey team kicked of its 2022 season on the road in a 2–1 victory over SUNY Geneseo. With today's win, Ithaca has now won each of its past five season openers.
The Bombers returned to action on Thursday, Sept. 1 in Geneseo, New York, taking on the Knights. The win marked the team's first road win against SUNY Geneseo in nearly 20 years, snapping a five-game losing streak. Sophomore striker
Emma Garver and senior striker
Elizabeth Pillow got the Bombers on the board with their first goals of the campaign, while graduate student goalkeeper
Macy Brandwein stood tall in net to secure the outcome.
In the first quarter, the Bombers pressured the Knights right out of the gate. They controlled possession and led in shots on goal, 3–0. As it looked like the Knights would be able to get out of the first quarter unscathed, sophomore striker
Natalie Descalso sent a cross-field pass to Garver, who fired it past the SUNY Geneseo goalkeeper with 13 seconds left in the frame.
The Knights would battle back, as early into the second quarter, the score was tied at 1–1. After a strong first quarter, the Bombers found themselves playing in their own end for most of the second quarter. They failed to register a shot on goal, whereas the Knights tested Brandwein three times in the period and generated four corners to the Bombers' one.
The game went into halftime tied at one, but the Bombers would get the next and final goal courtesy of Pillow. Junior striker
Avery Moses had possession near the right goalpost and drew a defender, creating a passing lane to Pillow, who cashed in on the opportunity around halfway through the third quarter. Once they got the lead, the Bombers never let up with their pressure, preventing Geneseo from generating any consistent offense.
The Bombers led in shots 10–7 and shots on goal 8–4, but Geneseo led in corners 6–4.
Ithaca team returns to South Hill for a three-game homestand beginning Sunday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. to take on St. John Fisher at Higgins Stadium.
