Ithaca College Athletics

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Ithaca College women's soccer team had its season come to a close on Sunday afternoon, falling to host-team No. 3 Middlebury 3-0 on penalty kicks in the NCAA regional final.
 
After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, IC and Middlebury went into a shootout. The Panthers made three-straight penalty kicks from Sara DiCenso, Ellie Greenberg and Cate Shellenback to advance. Goalkeeper Eva Shaw also made three-straight saves for Middlebury on penalty kick attempts from first-year Brady Lynch, senior Sam Robinson and junior Ally Christman.
 
Despite being outshot 23-6 the Bombers' defense held strong, stopping every offensive attack Middlebury made throughout the game. Senior goalkeeper Stacey DiGiorgio had a brilliant game in the net, notching nine saves on the day.
 
The Panthers got things going right from the start, clocking five shots in the first 20 minutes before IC took its first shot.
 
DiGiorgio made her first save just 1:39 into play on an Eliza Robinson shot before a Clare Robinson attempted sailed wide. Then, in the 14^th minute, DiGiorgio stopped another shot, from Eliza Van Voorhis before Olivia Miller's shot was wide.
 
The Panthers registered on more shot in the 20^th minute, from Amanda Dafonte which was high, before McKensie Galusha took the first shot on the game for IC, at the 27:54 mark.
 
DiGiorgio stopped two more shots in the first half, on another Eliza Robinson shot in the 31^st minute and a Sabrina Glaser attempt in the 40^th minute.
 
The Panthers opened up the second half with five straight shots, before IC put together an offensive push of its own. All of the Middlebury shots were either wide or blocked by Ithaca defenders.
 
Ithaca gained traction and put its first shot on goal in the 69^th minute, but Sarah Pirnie's shot was saved by Ursula Alwang.
 
DiGiorgio made two more saves, at the 75:00 mark and in the 77^th minute on Dafonte and Robinson shots before sending things the other way for iC.
 
Junior Gabriella Mihale put a shot on frame in the 80^th minute, but Alwang picked up the save. Ithaca kept things on its offensive end, putting one more shot on goal in the 86^th minute, from Reid Garner, which was also saved.
 
Both teams took just one shot apiece in the first overtime period.
 
Middlebury's Alex Barber had her shot stopped by DiGiorgio with just over five minutes left, before Alwang saved Garner's shot with 3:50 left.
 
Garner registered IC's lone shot in the second overtime period, just 26 seconds in, which was saved by Alwang.
 
DiGiorgio picked up crucial saves on Dafonte and Virginia Charman shots, to preserve the tie and force penalty kicks.

The Bombers close out their season with a 14-2-4 mark after earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.