ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team matched its season-high with four goals on Saturday as the Bombers held off the Elmira College Soaring Eagles, 4-2, in an Empire 8 contest at Campus Field.  The win moved Ithaca's overall mark to 5-6 and its conference record to 3-1.  Elmira fell to 4-6-1 and 1-3, respectively.

Ithaca got off on the right foot early and put Elmira in a two-goal hole just nine minutes into the game.  Sam Boylan converted a penalty kick, his second in the last two games, in the 7th minute before Alexander Brosnihan chipped one over the goalie's head in the 9th minute.  Zachary Lichtman was given an assist on the play.

After battling back-and-forth for nearly 30 minutes, Boylan struck again, scoring his second goal of the game after the senior forward beat his defender and unleashed a strike into the back of the net to give Ithaca a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

Trailing by three goals to start the second half, Elmira began to turn up the intensity in the midfield.  The Soaring Eagles got on the board in the 57th minute when the ball found its way through Ithaca's defense before being buried in the goal to make it 3-1.

The two teams continued to swap possessions as the half ticked away.  Elmira would make it a one-goal contest in the 72nd minute with a one-timer to bring it to 3-2, Ithaca.
The Soaring Eagles got a boost in the 75th minute when the Bombers were tagged with a red card.  Playing with a man down for the final 15 minutes of the game, Ithaca nearly surrendered the tying goal in the 78th minute when an Elmira offering hit off the post, but the Bombers responded with an insurance goal in the 81st minute as Brosnihan headed home a Max Barish feed to take a 4-2 lead.

Elmira took three shots over the final nine minutes, but the Bombers' defense stood tall as Ithaca held on for the all-important conference win.

Zach Jacobsen moved to 5-5 with the win.  The senior keeper made three saves in 90 minutes. 

As a team, Ithaca was outshot by Elmira, 17-16, however, the Bombers were awarded eight corners compared to seven for the host team. 

Boylan had seven shots in the win while Brosnihan had four.  Justinian Michaels had two shots and Nathan Schoen, Christian Shkreli and Kevin Turi were each credited with one shot.

Ithaca's next bout is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday when it entertains nationally-ranked Oneonta at Carp Wood Field.  The game marks the start to a four-game home stand for the Bombers.