ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 25 Ithaca College field hockey team will welcome Vassar College (11-6) to Higgins Stadium this Friday, November 3 for the Liberty League Semifinals at 4 p.m. If victorious, the Bombers (13-5) will host the championship game on Sunday against the winner of William Smith (11-7) and Rochester (14-6).
The Liberty League champion will earn an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Championship. The tournament field will be announced at 10:30 p.m. on November 5.
Vassar advanced to the semifinals after defeating Union, 2-1, on October 31 in a first round matchup. Rochester will head to William Smith on Friday.
GAME COVERAGE
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LIBERTY LEAGUE HISTORY:
Since 2003, four different Liberty League affiliates have won the conference championship – Rochester, Skidmore, William Smith and Vassar.
Skidmore has eight titles – 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
William Smith has won seven times – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2022
Rochester has won twice – 2017, 2019
Vassar has two championships – 2018, 2021
Ithaca played in the 2021 title game against Vassar.
THE SEMIFINIAL MATCHUP BETWEEN ITHACA AND VASSAR:
IC is 4-3 all-time against the Brewers, including a 2-1 victory just two weeks ago to clinch the top seed in the tournament. Six of the seven meetings have been decided by one goal. Vassar's last win over the Bombers was a 1-0 overtime victory in the 2021 Liberty League championship game.
POTENTIAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUP:
Ithaca's only loss in the Liberty League this season was to William Smith, a 1-0 setback on October 13. The Bombers defeated Rochester, 1-0, in overtime on Senior Day.
IC is 14-32-1 all-time against William Smith and 23-16 against Rochester.
A LOOK AT....ITHACA: IC brings a 13-5 record into the tournament and its first-ever nationally ranking by the NFHCA. Since a 3-3 start to the year, the Bombers have gone 10-2, which included a seven-game winning streak.
IC has outscored its opposition, 38-19, this year with eight shutouts.
Natalie Descalso leads the offense with 22 points on 12 assists and five goals, while Juliana Valli has nine goals and two assists for 20 points. Meara Bury ranks third with 16 points on seven goals and two assists.
Alex Clough is 12-4 in cage for the Bombers with a 0.98 GAA and .775 save percentage. Clough has made 55 saves in 980 minutes and surrendered just 16 goals.
A LOOK AT.....VASSAR: The Brewers are 11-6 on the season and finished in a three-way tie for second in the Liberty League but are the No. 4 seed due to tiebreakers. Four of Vassar's six losses have come on the road this season.
The Brewers have tallied 40 goals on the year and allowed 24, but have significantly outshot their opponents, 226-134.
Sofia Beseth leads the team with 20 points on nine goals and two assists, while Jaclyn Narleski is next in line with 16 points. Hailey Brigger has dished out a team-high six assists. Seven other players have scored at least one goal on the year.
Sarah Dumaresq is 10-4 on the year with a 1.21 GAA and .576 save percentage. Grace Wiley has also seen significant minutes with 360 and has made 21 saves.
