ITHACA, N.Y. – The No. 15 Ithaca College men's lacrosse team wrapped up its season-long four-game homestand on Wednesday afternoon when the Bombers welcomed top-ranked Rochester Institute of Technology for a huge Liberty League showdown at Higgins Stadium. Unfortunately, the visitors controlled matters from the outset, pulling away relatively early in a 19-9 defeat. With the loss, the Bombers fall to 10-2 on the year and 4-2 in Liberty League action.
 
Ithaca knew it had a difficult task on its hands on Wednesday, as RIT entered the day the unanimous No. 1 team in the country in the latest USILA Top-20 rankings. The Tigers were 12-0, winning by an average margin of 9.75 goals per game. The visitors kept both of those marks going on Wednesday, using a five-goal scoring run in the second quarter to gain separation, before outscoring the Bombers 8-1 in the third quarter to pull away. IC showed its fight with a 5-2 scoring advantage in the fourth frame, but by that point it was too-little-too-late for the Bombers.
 
Offensively, Ithaca was paced by a pair of three-goal efforts from senior Jake Cotton and freshman Connor Brumfield. Cotton finished with one goal and two helpers, passing Matt Neilligan '08 for third-place on the program's all-time scoring list with 225 career points. For Brumfield, he has now posted eight points over his past two outings, registering his second straight multi-goal effort with two goals and one assist.
 
Junior Will Witter and sophomore transfer Ryan Ozsvath each added one goal apiece in the first half. Senior midfielder Kaelan Fitzpatrick posted a goal in the third quarter, while juniors Brendan King and Josh Della Puca, as well as senior Stephen Morrell registered one goal apiece in the fourth quarter. Juniors Conner Crosson and Owen Smith each posted one assist apiece.
 
Defensively, sophomore Aaron McCartney highlighted the team's day. He finished with four caused turnovers and six ground-balls in one of his strongest statistical performances of the season. Junior pole player Sean Seaberg chipped in two caused turnovers and eight ground-balls. Graduate-student Winston Wenham added one caused turnover and three ground-balls.
 
In goal, sophomore Robby Atwood hung tough, but suffered his second loss as a starter during his early collegiate career. He finished with 12 saves, several of the highlight reel variety. Unfortunately, RIT's potent and dynamic attack proved relentless throughout the afternoon.
 
Ithaca returns to action on Saturday, April 14, when it hits the road for another Liberty League contest. The Bombers will look to bounce back against Bard, with start time slated for 3:00 p.m.