In an instant classic on Tuesday, the Brockport field hockey team took down the Ithaca Bombers by a score of 2-1. This was Brockport’s first win over Ithaca since 2011, moving the Golden Eagles to 5-1 for the season.
Tuesday’s game was victorious, both on-and off-field for the Golden Eagles, as it was the team’s second annual “Turn the Turf Teal” game, raising money and awareness for Ovarian Cancer. This online campaign has raised $2,286 by selling shirts and from donations made at the game, leading to a successful second year of the event.
The game represented one of the biggest challenges of the season for the Golden Eagles, with the Bombers coming into the game with an equal record of 4-1. The Bombers took an early lead on a goal by Kiley Sullivan in the first quarter.
Brockport got three penalty corners with time expired in the first quarter which eventually led to the equalizing goal from Gianna Salerno, assisted by Olivia Hayden. The game entered halftime, still knotted up at 1, with the Bombers holding a major shot advantage.
In the third quarter, Paige Thowe found Bailey Lazore for what would eventually go on to be the game winning goal. The Golden Eagles’ defense, led by goalie Ella Buchanan, survived a late push from Ithaca to win 2-1. Buchanan was the star for Brockport as she made 31 saves on 32 shots faced, with a .969 save percentage. The reigning SUNYAC player of the week credited her defense for her performance.
“My defensive crew, they’re my rock and they just help me focus back in,” Buchanan said. “When the goal went in, they said ‘hey don’t hang your head, you got the next one.’ They got my back and push me to be better each rep.”
Head coach Krista Archambeau held high praise for her team postgame.
“They all played collectively as a unit for sixty full minutes. They played together, they played their hearts out, we won 50/50 balls and we really applied in the game what we’ve been practicing,” Archambeau said.
The Golden Eagles have 5 wins now this year, compared to a 7-8 season last fall, a major improvement.
“They come ready to work every single day. They’re hungry, they want to work for each other, they’re coachable, but most of all, we’re just looking at the step-by-step small process, instead of the big outcome,” Archambeau said.
The Golden Eagles expect to carry their momentum into Saturday’s SUNYAC conference opener against #19 SUNY Cortland.
