ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 18 Ithaca College field hockey team returned to Higgins Stadium for the first time in two weeks and took down Union College, 3-1, in both teams' Liberty League opener on September 28. Ithaca is now 6-3 on the season.
The Bombers came out aggressive in the first quarter and earned five corners in the opening nine minutes, but each ensuing shot attempt was either blocked or saved. With just over three minutes to go in the quarter, IC drew another corner and fired off three consecutive shots, but all were saved by Union's goalkeeper Sophie Brady to keep the game scoreless.
Ithaca took a 1-0 lead midway through the second quarter as
Emma Garver ripped a shot from the top of the circle off a corner insert from
Meara Bury. The tally is the second for Garver this season.
IC closed out the half with another goal from
Juliana Valli with no time on the clock to extend the lead to 2-0. The Bombers earned a corner with three seconds on the clock and the continuation allowed IC to put another goal on the board.
Early in the third quarter, IC put in another goal as a shot attempt by Garver was redirected by Valli to make it 3-0 with 10:05 remaining.
Union got on the board with a penalty stroke with 1:30 left in the game to account for the 3-1 final score.
Maeve Clark made two saves in the victory to improve to 3-3 on the season.
The Bombers outshot Union, 18-6, in the matchup and earned 14 penalty corners to five from the Garnet Chargers.
IC heads to No. 20 SUNY Geneseo on October 2 and returns home to host William Smith on the 5th.
