ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca men's lacrosse team scored the last four goals of the game and won 11-8 against Stevens Saturday afternoon at Upper Terrace Field. With the victory, Ithaca clinched an Empire 8 playoff berth and will play at St. John FIsher or RIT in a semifinal Friday afternoon.

The four-goal fourth-quarter run for the Bombers started with a goal from junior midfielder Ryan Lowe (Fairport/Fairport) to tie the score 8-8 just 1:23 after Stevens took its first lead of the game. Five minutes later junior midfielder Jay Lucas (Fox Lane/Bedford Hills) ripped a shot into the upper corner to put the Bombers ahead. Sophomore Tom Mongelli (Kinnelon/Kinnelon, N.J.) and Lucas added goals in the final three minutes to clinch the victory.

Junior goalie David Gal (Loomis Chaffee/Amherst, Mass.) made 14 saves and the Bombers converted two of four extra-man opportunities.

Ithaca built a 5-0 lead in the first half and its largest lead was six at 7-1. Senior Nic Heckman (Sparta/Sparta, N.J.) assisted on five goals, a career-high in assists for Heckman. Senior attackman Mike Lohan (Calhoun/Merrick) scored twice. Freshman Brian DiBetta (John Jay/Katonah), junior midfielder Michael Silipo (Williston Northampton/Deerfield, Mass.) and sophomore attackman Devin Weinshank (Long Beach/Long Beach) also scored first-half goals for Ithaca.

Senior midfielder Nick Neuman (West/Madison, Wis.) won 16 of 23 faceoffs in the game, including the first six of the game as Ithaca seized the early advantage.

The other Bomber seniors, Roniel Bencosme (Sleepy Hollow/Sleepy Hollow) and Nick Powers (Bridgewater-Raritan/Bridgewater, N.J.) helped Ithaca control possession and were part of Ithaca's team defense which held its opponent to nine goals or fewer for the sixth game in a row.

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