Box Score UTICA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's lacrosse team scored the game-winning goal with 18 seconds left in a 10-9 win at Utica College on Wednesday afternoon. The victory clinched an Empire 8 playoff spot for Ithaca, as the Bombers improved their record to 10-7 overall and 6-2 in the conference.
 
With the game tied 9-9 in the final minute of the second half, Ithaca goalkeeper Emily Ross stole the ball from the Pioneers and Ithaca called timeout. The Bombers successfully cleared the ball to the attack end of the field, and Morgan Cadwell was fouled and awarded a free-position shot. Cadwell converted with 18 seconds left. It was her second goal of the game.
 
Utica won the ensuing draw control but failed to attempt a shot in the game's closing seconds.
 
Neither team led by more than two goals in the back-and-forth contest.
 
Utica led 2-0 in the early part of the first half, but Ithaca scored three goals in a row to take a 3-2 lead. Ally Runyon got Ithaca on the board and Emily Peters scored twice in that span. Utica took a 4-3 lead, but another three-goal run for the Bombers on goals by Riley Marion, Runyon and Cadwell put Ithaca in front.
 
Ithaca led 6-5 at halftime, but the Pioneers tied the game early in the second half. Natalie Lang and Peters scored, each from free position attempts, and Ithaca never trailed again. Utica tied the game 9-9 with 3:19 left to set up the deciding conclusion.
 
Ross made 11 saves for Ithaca and Utica converted just 2-of-7 free-position shots. Ithaca was 5-for-6 on free positions. Utica had a stats advantage in shots, ground balls and draw controls.
 
Peters led Ithaca with three goals. Runyon, Marion and Cadwell scored two goals each. With two goals in Wednesday's games, Runyon has 51 goals on the season. It is the 11th time in program history that a player has hit the 50-goal mark in a single season.
 
Ithaca has won three games in a row and six of its last seven contests. The Bombers will play an Empire 8 semifinal game on Saturday, May 2 against an opponent to be determined at the tournament's highest seed, which has not yet been determined.