ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Ithaca College women's soccer team took a season-high 43 shots as the Bombers earned their ninth shutout of the season after defeating Utica College, 4-0, on Saturday at Carp Wood Field.
Ithaca, which honored
Kelsey King,
Beth Coppolecchia and
Sarah Woychick prior to the game as part of senior day, extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games and moved its season mark to 12-3-2 including a 6-0-2 record in conference, while the Pioneers fell to 3-13-2 overall and 1-7-0 against Empire 8 schools.
The Bombers took the lead for good in the 10th minute of play when
Taylor Baranowsky headed in the game's first goal on a corner feed from
Holly Niemiec.
Ithaca would double its lead in the 35th minute as
Sarah Pirnie was in the right place at the right time to kick a loose ball past Utica's goalie to give the Bombers a 2-0 advantage.
The home team would strike again early in the second half when senior King found
Megan Nash open on the left side of the box. The junior forward one-timed the ball into the top right corner of the cage to give Ithaca a commanding three-goal lead.
The Bombers kept rolling as the game wore on, scoring their fourth and final tally in the game's 59th minute as King scored her team-leading ninth goal of the year after rebounding a shot off the foot of
Jocelyn Ravesi to lift Ithaca to a 4-0 win. Ravesi was credited with an assist on the play.
Coppolecchia earned her 12th win of the year in net and the 46th of her career after making two saves in 71 minutes.
Karen Macke,
Stacey DiGiorgio and
Alexa Dargis also saw time in net for Ithaca.
Head coach
Mindy Quigg's squad looked sharp on both sides of the ball, limiting the Pioneer front line to only two shots on goal all game. Offensively, the Bombers took 43 shots including 13 on goal.
Ithaca , which clinched the second seed in the upcoming Empire 8 tournament by virtue of a Stevens win over Hartwick, will travel to Hoboken on Friday, November 6 where it will take on the fourth seed in the semifinal round.
