ONEONTA, NY – A talented Ithaca squad got the better of the Hartwick field hockey team on Friday afternoon, as the Bombers defeated the Hawks 3-1 on a trio of first-half strikes. The win moves Ithaca to 3-1 on the season, while 'Wick is now 1-2.
Brianna Lennon got the scoring started for the visitors, popping one into the cage exactly nine minutes in. Her initial shot was saved by Madison Maddocks (Garrison, NY/Walter Panas), but Lennon got to the rebound and put it home.
It took until the 18th minute for the next tally, which came off the stick of Ithaca's Jacqueline Mirable. Off a corner, Madeline Goodman took a long shot that was saved. Mirabile found the rebound, was stopped by Maddocks once but went around her on the backhand for the lead-doubling goal.
Hartwick had a couple great chances about a minute apart a few minutes later. Leah Tolley (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) rocketed a hard shot from the top of the circle off a corner, but it went just wide left. Sydney Gagnon (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) followed not long after with a series of nifty moves and a backhanded effort that also went wide. The Bombers made the Hawks pay for their inability to finish, extending their lead to three in the 25th minute. This time it was Morgan Mullen on the finish, assisted by Elizabeth Pillow's cross along the end line and into the area in front of the cage. At the half, the visitors led 3-0.
There were not too many significant chances in the second half, as Ithaca tried to slow the game down and stifle any offense. The Bombers did have one dangerous cross enter the goal scoring area in front of the goal with about a minute left in the third, but it exited that area without hitting a stick.
Tolley prevented the clean sheet with 4:17 remaining, after the third of three corners in short order for 'Wick. Libby Fortin's (State College, PA/State College Area) entry pass came to Julie Ruzzi (High Falls, NY/Rondout Valley) at the top of the circle, whose low, hard smash was nicely redirected by the junior midfielder into the back of the cage. That was all the Hawks would get, however, as the final buzzer rang out a few minutes later.
Tolley led all players in shots and shattered her career-best by far, shooting nine times. Gagnon was not too far behind, with six efforts of her one. Maddocks spent all 60 minutes in net and made a career-high seven saves on 10 shots on target.
Hartwick had the lead in shots, at 18-12, but the Bombers were much more accurate with their efforts as they led 10-4 in shots on goal. The Hawks dominated the corner game, with a 16-6 advantage in the category (including 9 to 1 in the second quarter alone).
'Wick returns to action on Wednesday, September 15, at 6 p.m. when they open Empire 8 play with a trip down I-88 to Russell Sage.
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