Rochester, N.Y. – The 19th-ranked Ithaca women's soccer team (12-4-1) was knocked out of the Empire 8 playoffs by a 2-1 score Saturday afternoon by Stevens Institute of Technology (15-3-1) in a neutral-site game at Nazareth.

Ithaca held a 7-6 advantage in shots in the scoreless first half, and both teams had good scoring chances cleared off of the goal line. Bomber freshman Ellyn Grant-Keane (Lansing/Lansing) had a header from six yards following a corner kick that was denied by a Stevens defender at the right post. Stevens had a similar chance off of a corner that was cleared by graduate student defender Liz Masucci (New Providence/New Providence, N.J.).

Ithaca's best chance to break the deadlock in the second half came in the 56th minute after a foul deep in the Stevens end. Sophomore midfielder Julie Winn (Sutton/Sutton, Mass.) swung in a cross swung from the left that was headed wide by freshman Anna Gray (Delmar/Bethlehem).

Stevens scored the game's first goal in the 64th minute, on a cross from the right side that was clattered in at the goal line among a group of colliding players.

Masucci had a clear shot opportunity inside of the penalty area four minutes later but shot over the cross bar from 10 yards.

The Bombers threatened again in the 70th minute on a low cross through the penalty area that found Grant-Keane at the left post but her shot back across the goal was blocked by a Stevens defender.

Stevens added another goal in the 78th minute to account for the final score.

Winn had two dangerous shots in the final 10 minutes – one was over the net and another was tipped over the bar by the Stevens keeper.

It was only the fifth time this season that Ithaca was held off of the scoreboard, and the first time this year the Bombers conceded more than one goal against any opponent.

Box Score