Middlebury, Vt. – The 23rd-ranked Ithaca women's lacrosse team (11-7) battled at 14th-ranked Middlebury (11-5), but dropped a 14-7 decision in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championships Wednesday afternoon. The game marked the Bombers' ninth appearance in the NCAA playoffs and third at Middlebury.

Middlebury looked to dominate early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead, but the Bombers used three straight to chip away at the deficit and make it at 5-4 game at 9:50. The Panthers netted two of the final three goals in the first frame to lead 7-5 at the break.

The Panthers opened the second stint with three straight scores before Ithaca answered with a pair to make it 10-7. The Panthers claimed the game's final four goals to secure the first-round victory, 14-7, and put an end to Ithaca's second straight 10-win season.

Sophomore Tracy Rivas (East Meadow/East Meadow) tallied a team-best three scores and knotted with junior Siobhan Sullivan (Franklin/Franklin, Mass.) to lead the Bombers with three draw control victories each.

Senior Ali DeCirce (Binghamton/Binghamton) put two in the back of the net in her collegiate finale, while adding an assist. Sophomore Nikki Dahl (The Wellington School/Columbus, Ohio) and junior Nicole Borisenok (Albany Academy for Girls/Watervliet) each scored once for Ithaca.

Sophomore Jess Worthman (Hauppauge/Commack) suffered the loss in goal having made nine stops.

DeCirce claimed the game's first draw control and sophomore Michelle Avery (Brien McMahon/Norwalk, Conn.) shot wide to open action, but Middlebury rattled off four consecutive scores before the Bombers got on the board.

Rivas capitalized on a free position opportunity at 22:55 and netted another at 19:39 broken up by a Panther score to make it 5-2.

DeCirce lined up for a free position shot at 14:40 and found a cutting Dahl to make it a two- goal game. The Bombers made a key defensive stop and marched downfield where DeCirce netted one of her own at 9:50 to bring the game to 5-4, but Middlebury answered off the ensuing draw control to reinstate a two-goal lead.

The Panthers stuck again at 8:25 before freshman Katie Long (Ithaca/Ithaca) found Borisenok cutting through the crease to bring the game to 7-5, a score that would stand through intermission.

Three straight Panther goals kicked off the second half before Rivas tallied her third of the game. DeCirce brought the game to 10-7 as she bounced in a free position shot at 17:22, but Middlebury extended its advantage to seven with another four consecutive to make it 14-7, a score that would ultimately run out the clock.

Middlebury outshot Ithaca, 28-15, scooped up 17 ground balls to the Bombers' eight and edged Ithaca 12-11 in draws.

Box Score