The SUNY Oneonta field hockey team opened its 2015 season tonight falling to the Ithaca Bombers 3-1 at All Weather Field on the campus of Hartwick College.
The Red Dragons were trailing 3-0 late in the first half when Ithaca was awarded a penalty stroke. Olivia Salindong of Ithaca tried to lift a high shot over Krista Servedio (Shrub Oak/Lakeland)'s left side, but Servedio made a diving blocker save. This seemed to spark the Red Dragons who four minutes later scored their first goal of the season.
The goal was scored by senior Hannah Hayward (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) off an assist by freshman Allyson Wells (Niskayuna/Niskayuna). Â The Red Dragons went into the half trailing the Bombers 3-1.
The three first half goals for Ithaca were scored by C. Keegan Twombly, Cassie Schuttrumpf and Amanda Schell.
The Red Dragons came out of the second half and made defensive adjustments which held the Bombers to only 4 shots, compared to 13 in the first. With these adjustments they held Ithaca scoreless in the second half. The Bombers also played solid defense in the second half only allowing 3 shots to the Red Dragons and no goals.
Oneonta earned 11 penalty corners to Ithaca's eight but they did not capitalize on any of these corners, Ithaca scored on one penalty corner. The penalty corner gave Ithaca a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute and was scored by Keegan-Twombly with an assist from Caitlin O'Brien.
Servedio finished the game with eight saves, while Ithaca's Katie Lass registered three stops.
The next game for the Red Dragons is this Saturday September 5th at 11am against the Utica Pioneers in Utica, NY.
