ITHACA, N.Y. – For the 10th time in the 12 years of the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, the Ithaca College women's lacrosse team (11-5) is making an appearance in the semifinal round. The top-seeded and 18th-ranked Bombers are slated to face fourth-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology (7-9) Saturday at 11 a.m. at Higgins Stadium. A 1:30 p.m. semifinal game between second-seeded St. John Fisher (13-4) and third-seeded Nazareth (8-7) will follow. The title contest will take place Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Live stats, a live webcast and a live radio broadcast will be available for all three games. WICB will broadcast Saturday's games, while the championship will be broadcast by VIC.  Additional information can be found on the championship central website.
 
Ithaca, who won the conference title in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008, defeated the Ducks, 13-6, in Hoboken during regular-season play. Ithaca leads the all-time series 6-5 and is knotted with the Ducks 2-2 in Empire 8 playoff action. Ithaca defeated the Ducks, 12-11, in the 2008 championship game and 17-11 in the 2013 semifinals. Stevens' two tournament victories came in the 2010 and 2011 championship games.
 
Ithaca snapped a five-game Fisher win streak to hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season, 9-7, on March 22. The Bombers have an 11-7 record over Fisher in a series dating back to 2001. The pair has matched up four times in Empire 8 playoff action with the Cardinals claiming a 3-1 edge in outcomes.
 
The Bombers powered past Nazareth, 12-5, on April 12 for a 14-9 series margin against the Golden Flyers. Ithaca is 6-1 against Nazareth during the Empire 8 postseason, having defeated the Golden Flyers in the championship game in 2003 and 2004 and in the semifinals four times since.
 
Ithaca enters the tournament with a flawless 7-0 Empire 8 record for the third straight season. The Bombers, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, are outscoring Empire 8 opponents 99-31. Sophomore Ally Runyon has posted a Bomber-best 56 points with a team-high 49 goals and seven assists. Classmate Riley Marion adds 38 scores and nine assists. Senior Becky Guzzo has dished out 32 assists and ranks fourth in program history for single-season and career assists. Marion has a team-best 37 draws and senior Jenna Marchinetti leads Ithaca in ground balls with 33 and caused turnovers with 19. Freshman Emily Ross has made 113 saves for a save percentage of .509.