ITHACA, NY - Ithaca College made a goal halfway through the first half stand up as the Bombers defeated the 15th ranked University of Rochester field hockey team 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The win moves Ithaca to 4-1 on the season while Rochester drops its first game of the year and is now 5-1.  It is Ithaca's first win over Rochester since a 2-0 victory on October 17, 2007, a span of eight meetings.
 
The Bombers would get on the board midway through a defensive minded first half.  After a penalty corner, Ithaca's Colleen Keegan-Twombly would deflect in a hard shot from the point by Olivia Salindong just inside the left post at the 18 minute mark.  That was only one of four Bomber shots in the half.
 
Visiting Rochester would apply pressure late in the first period, generating five shots in the last eight minutes, including four shots on goal.  Bomber keeper Katie Lass would withstand the shots, keeping the Yellowjackets at bay.  At the half, UR would hold a 7-4 edge in shots.
 
In the second half, it was more of the same, with Ithaca's defense not allowing UR to penetrate the circle and generate solid scoring chances.
 
Ithaca would get the two best scoring chances of the half in the 61st minute, looking for an insurance tally, after its only penalty corner of the period.  Cassie Schuttrumpf had a shot blocked and then Keegan-Twombly had a chance saved away at the left post by UR goalie Tara Lamberti.
 
Again, Rochester would look to score late, but a penalty corner with just over a minute to go would not go the 'Jackets way and Ithaca would emerge with the victory.
 
For the game, UR held a 14-6 shot advantage and earned eight corners to Ithaca's three.  Lass made eight saves for the Bombers while Lamberti made two stops for UR.
 
The game leader in shots was senior Michelle Relin, who fired eight shots, five of which were on net.  Freshman Courtney Dunham added three shots, two on goal for the Yellowjackets.
 
Rochester will now look to rebound this weekend with a tough test against 14th ranked University of Mary Washington.  That game will be played at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, PA, training site of the USA National Field Hockey team.