ITHACA, N.Y. – The Union College field hockey team dropped its Liberty League opener on Saturday afternoon, falling to #18 Ithaca College by a 3-1 score at Higgins Stadium.
 
First-year Maggie Monaghan scored the lone goal of the game for Union (6-3, 0-1 Liberty League), while Ithaca (6-3, 1-0 Liberty League) was paced by two goals from Juliana Valli and one from Emma Garver.
 
The first 30 minutes belonged entirely to the Bombers, who outshot Union by an 11-0 margin and scored the only two goals. Garver scored off a corner attempt in the 23rd minute to open the scoring, and another corner resulted in an untimed goal by Valli at the 30:00 mark to end the first half.
 
The Garnet Chargers found more offensive opportunities in the second stanza, taking six shots to Ithaca's seven and also earning four penalty corners. Valli bumped the Bomber lead to three 4:55 into the third period and the lead stayed at three until the final minutes, when Monaghan converted on a penalty stroke attempt to break up the shutout.
 
Ithaca ended the afternoon with an 18-6 edge in shots. Junior Sophie Brady made 10 saves to keep her team in the contest, while Maeve Clark recorded two stops for Ithaca.
 
Union will be back in action on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. matchup at Wesleyan University.