ITHACA, N.Y. – The Union College field hockey team had its season-opening six-game winning streak come to a halt on Saturday afternoon as the team dropped a 3-0 match to Ithaca College in the teams' Liberty League opener at Higgins Stadium.
 
Union (6-1, 0-1 Liberty League) generated plenty of chances on the afternoon, but could not find the net at the right times to pull out a win. The visitors outshot Ithaca (5-2, 1-0 Liberty League) by a 13-10 margin and put nine shots on goal to Ithaca's seven, but Macy Brandwein made eight saves and got some help from her defense to give the Bombers the win.
 
After the teams battled through a scoreless first period, Union outshot Ithaca 6-2 in the second stanza, but it was the Bombers that got on the board thanks to a Natalie Descalso tally 5:13 before halftime. The home team then put the game away with two goals from Descalso and Morgan Mullen during a third quarter in which Ithaca posted a 6-1 edge in shots.
 
Union tried to mount a comeback in the final frame, keeping Ithaca without a shot and taking five attempts, but all three on-target attempts were denied. First-year Sophie Brady made four saves for Union in a losing effort.
 
Union will look to bounce back on Wednesday with a non-conference matchup against Russell Sage College beginning at 6 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.