ITHACA, N.Y. – The 11^th-ranked Ithaca College men's lacrosse team began the day on Wednesday hoping to embark on the first step of a would-be second straight Empire 8 Conference Title in its final season affiliated with the league. Unfortunately, the title run was snuffed out early, as third-seed Nazareth upset the second-seeded Bombers in a gut-wrenching 14-13 overtime thriller at Higgins Stadium. The loss drops Ithaca to 13-4 on the year, while the Golden Flyers await the winner of the other conference semifinal matchup between top-seed Stevens and fourth-seed Hartwick in the E8 Championship Game on Saturday.
 
Overtime has been a thorn in Ithaca's side all season. Already having dropped heartbreaking overtime contests to nationally-ranked SUNY Cortland and Stevens earlier this season, the Bombers hoped to get over the hump in the extra session against the Golden Flyers. Nazareth had other ideas, winning the opening draw and calling a timeout to setup an attacking zone opportunity. Luke Longo fired a bounce-shot into the upper left corner of the cage 19-seconds into the first overtime period to send the visitors home happy, while IC was left hurting over another crushing defeat.
 
Overtime did not look like it was ever remotely in the cards earlier in the afternoon. Ithaca came out red-hot during the opening quarter, striking for four goals during the first 7:58 of game action. The Bombers took a 5-2 lead into the second quarter, while three consecutive goals to close the half re-opened the four-point edge at 8-4 through 30-minutes of play.
 
Much like the earlier contest between these two evenly-matched sides during the regular season, the third quarter proved pivotal on this day. While Ithaca outscored Nazareth 6-to-1 during the regular-season matchup on April 8 in Rochester, N.Y., the Golden Flyers returned the favor on Wednesday, posting a 6-to-1 advantage on the scoreboard to take a 10-9 lead into the final quarter.
 
The two sides answered score-for-score during the fourth quarter, but it looked as though Ithaca was going to pull out the win after Jack Shumway equalized the game at 13-all with 1:23 to go. Ithaca had a final opportunity to win the game in regulation, but John Januszkiewicz was unable to get a solid look on net after making a hard drive to the net as time expired. It was the final attacking possession the Bombers would have in the game.
 
Sophomore Josh Della Puca was a man-on-fire in today's game, leading all players with seven points. He scored five goals and added two assists, tying his career highs for both points and goals in a game. John Januszkiewicz added a big game with his third consecutive hat-trick effort. The senior finished with four points, adding an assist on Shumway's crucial late scoring strike in the fourth quarter.
 
Shumway scored two goals in the game, adding a third quarter scoring strike to his one in the fourth. Juniors Kaelan Fitzpatrick and Stephen Morrell each added a goal, while sophomore long-stick Sean Seaburg scored his first career goal as a Bomber to round out the goal scoring. Juniors Jake Cotton and Greg Drillock chipped in one assist apiece.
 
Defensively, senior Cody Swing played and excellent game. He finished with a game-high four caused turnovers and added six ground-balls. Freshman Aaron McCartney picked off a pair of Nazareth passes, while junior Winston Wenham also added a forced Nazareth miscue.
 
Senior goalie Justin Isaacs picked up the hard-luck loss on the day. He finished the game with a season-high 11 saves, but had his record fall to 2-1 on the year.
 
It was a lightning quick start for Ithaca on the day, as the Bombers shocked Nazareth with a quick barrage of scoring strikes in the opening period. Della Puca kick-started his big afternoon with a bounce-shot into the lower right corner to open the scoring with 4:14 into the game. Seaburg added his unexpected scoring strike just six seconds later, scooping up a ball on the ensuing faceoff and making a hard center drive before firing a laser into the upper right corner. Januszkiewicz and Della Puca added scores 1:05 apart a couple minutes later to make it 4-0 midway through the quarter.
 
Nazareth gained a foothold in the contest with a strong finish to the opening period, which it carried over into the second. The Golden Flyers scored three straight over the stretch to close within one goal with 11:06 to go before the half.
 
It appeared as Ithaca may pull away for good during the remainder of the second quarter. The Bombers netted three straight tallies to close out the quarter to take a four-goal lead to the break.
 
Fitzpatrick quelled the Nazareth momentum with a bounce shot that went five-hole through the net-minder to extend Ithaca's lead to 6-4. Della Puca scored his fourth of the half with 8:12 to go, making a great swim move before sending a shot into the bottom right of the cage. Januszkiewicz netted his second of the half with 4:46 to go, firing a bounce shot into the twine to cap a dominant possession in the attacking zone.
 
The faceoff battle turned the tide for Nazareth. Seth DeLisle dominated the 'X' after halftime winning 14-of-17 draws in the remainder of the contest. The Golden Flyers capitalized with the extra possession.
 
Ithaca saw its four-goal lead evaporate quickly coming out of half, as Nazareth scored four times over a 2:15 span to tie the game at 8-8 with 11:39 still to go in the third quarter. A subsequent three-goal scoring run spanning the final 7:35 of the third frame and the opening minutes of the fourth gave the visitors an 11-9 lead with 12:15 to go in regulation.
 
IC turned to its red-hot scoring stars to pull even. Januszkiewicz made a hard drive down the left flank of the attacking zone, before wiring a shot against the grain just inside the right post with 10:50 left to play. Della Puca leveled the score at 11-11 just 56-seconds later, scoring on a quick restart from behind the net.
 
The two sides traded scoring punches over the waning minutes with Shumway tying the game with 83-seconds left on a quick turning shot after Januszkiewicz picked him out with a great pass into the high slot. The goal was Shumway's 50^th of the season. Unfortunately, it would not be enough, as the Golden Flyers got the sudden-victory goal from Longo 19-seconds into overtime.
 
Ithaca awaits its fate, as the NCAA will announce its Division III Tournament field on Sunday evening. The announcement will be broadcast on live stream at 9:00 p.m. Stay tuned to the Ithaca College Athletics website and social media accounts for more information.