ITHACA, N.Y. -- Freshman forward Rachael Palladino (Groton/Lansing) scored both goals as the #22 women's soccer team (14-4-1) beat Nazareth 2-0 in the Empire Championship Tournament final Sunday. The Bombers won their seventh league title and earned conference's s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Playoff pairings will be announced Monday morning. Ithaca will be making their 19th appearance in the NCAA playoffs; no team has made more. Palladino and senior midfielder Amy Scheffer (Schalmont/Schenectady) shared the Empire 8 Championship Tournament MVP award.

Sophomore Megan Trager (Sharon/Sharon, Mass.) assisted on both goals. Palladino took a hard shot from the 18 after taking a header from Trager in the fourth minute. She added the bracer just 46 seconds into the second period, dribbling in from the top of the box.

Palladino raised her season totals to 12 goals and a team-high 31 points. Both figures are Bomber freshman records. Trager's seven assists rank second on the team.

Junior Jessica Platt (Monument Mountain/New Marlborough, Mass.) needed to make just one save -- on a soft shot in the 88th minute -- as Ithaca outshot the Golden Flyers 23-6. For Nazareth, junior Hilary Simon made nine saves. Two of her best stops robbed freshman midfielder Julie Winn (Sutton/Sutton, Mass.).

The Bombers, who have won seven of the last eight Empire 8 titles, will be making their 20th NCAA playoff appearance in the past 23 years (no school has made more). The field for the NCAA tournament will be announced Sunday night. Pairings, sites and game times will be announced Monday morning.



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