ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team will get its 2023 underway this Friday evening. September 1 at 5 p.m. against No. 17 Kean University at Higgins Stadium. Ithaca is coming off a 14-4 campaign last fall, which ended in the semifinals of the Liberty League Championship.

The Bombers will face a grueling schedule this season, as the NFHCA just announced its top 25 preseason poll, and four opponents are ranked – Kean (17th), York (13th), Rochester (18th) and William Smith (20th). York, Rochester and William Smith all reached the NCAA Championship, along with Cortland, who the Bombers face on September 13.

"Since I arrived on South Hill in 2017, the goal has been to compete against the best so we can be the best," said head coach Kaitlyn Wahila. "We are ready for the opportunity to compete against ranked opponents so we can be challenged in all areas of our game plan. The opportunity to compete on game day against any opponent is something we are grateful for. We look forward to playing these ranked opponents and becoming a better team."

IC will take on the slate with 27 student-athletes on the roster this season, which is comprised of one graduate student, five seniors, seven juniors, five sophomores and nine first-years.

Wahila, now in her seventh season at Ithaca, spoke about this year's roster and how preparations have gone for the season thus far.

"We are thrilled to begin our 2023 campaign," said Wahila. "Since beginning our training on August 18^th this team is proving they are here to compete. They are coachable, passionate, and driven. I am most especially proud of the way our returners have welcomed our nine first-year student-athletes. We take pride in our team culture both on and off the field and one day at a time this team is coming together. I am pleased of how our team has progressed on both sides of the ball with each training session over the past two weeks."

The graduate and senior group of Nicole Fortunato, Sarah DeVito, Kiley Sullivan, Juliann Vadney, Avery Moses and Alex Clough will all step into those leadership roles with the departure of three former All-Americans. IC's junior class – Natalie Descalso, Catherine Papa, Emma Garver, Juliana Valli, Bella McCollister, Madeleine Goodman and Meara Bury – will also be looked upon to take the program to the next level.

Descalso is the lone returner that was named All-Liberty League in 2022. The junior led IC in goals and points last season as she earned NFHCA National Player of the Week honors during the year.

This year's sophomore class is made up of Anne Leach, Eliza Ballaro, Reese Abrahamson, Brenna Schoenfeld and Shannon Dougherty. The first-years are Abby Cannon, Ainsley Grant, Breeah Shaw, Caroline Folan, Brady Sullivan, Brooke Snider, Nicole Kornweiss, Audrey McMahon and Payton Yahner.

"Our nine first-years have adjusted to collegiate field hockey very well," expressed Wahila. "I am impressed with how quickly they have adapted to our style of play with such great effort. Our returners have been wonderful role models in making sure our first years understand our culture both on and off the field. Our coaching staff is proud of Team 56 and we're ready to trust the process that this 2023 season will be!"

Following the opener against Kean, IC will hit the road to play St. John Fisher (September 3) and Misericordia (September 6). The Bombers then return to South Hill to host Oswego on the 8th and Cortland.

From there, the Bombers alternate home and away for the next six contests – at York (16th), home vs. Brockport (20th), at Union (23rd), home vs. Scranton (27th), at Skidmore (30th) and home against Geneseo on October 4.

On October 7, St. Lawrence comes to Higgins Stadium and then New Paltz makes the trek to South Hill on the 10th. The next two games will be challenges for IC as the Bombers go to No. 20 William Smith on the 13th and host No. 20 Rochester on the 15th for Senior Day.

"This season we are excited to add three new out of conference opponents," Wahila continued. "Kean University on 9/1, York College of Pennsylvania 9/16 and Ursinus 10/28. All 3 of these programs are traditionally ranked in the top 25. This has been a goal of ours over the past couple of years, to add ranked non-conference opponents to our schedule. We are lucky to play in such a competitive Liberty League and to now add in these high caliber programs, it is going to be an exciting season."

The regular season concludes with a home matchup with RPI on October 20, followed by road games at Vassar on the 22nd and Ursinus on the 28th. The Liberty League Championship will take place over three dates – October 31, November 3 and November 5.