ALFRED, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team opened up the 2018 slate with a win at Alfred State on Friday evening.
 
"We are pleased to get the season underway with a win and a clean sheet," said Head Coach Kyle Dezotell. "Alfred State really competed today and made it difficult for us with their work rate."
 
Ithaca controlled the pace from the jump, recording its first shot, from Nate Schoen, in the third minute of the game, but it was saved by an Alfred State player. Sophomore Ben Quatresols followed that up with a shot that went high in the sixth minute.
 
The Bombers tested goalie Nico Coria for the first time in the 11^th minute on a Duncan Schnur shot, but Coria made the save.
 
"Their goalkeeper was absolutely amazing and left us scratching our head on numerous occasions," said Dezotell of Coria.
 
IC drew a corner kick, also in the 11^th minute, which led to a shot from Schoen, which was once again saved by Alfred State. Less than one minute later, Schnur sent another shot towards Coria, but he made the save again.
 
Jack Monnes sent a shot towards goal in the 13^th minute, which went wide, but Ithaca remained in control of the game.
 
Less than one minute later, Jon Kyriakidis on a pass from Schoen. The go-ahead goal was the first for Kyriakidis in an Ithaca uniform.
 
Although that would prove to be the lone goal of the first half, the Bombers continued to control the tempo of the game. IC took six shots and drew a corner kick while Alfred State only had one two shots and one corner.
 
Alfred had its first scoring opportunity in the 19^th minute when it drew a corner kick which led to a shot from Maliq Burton, which went wide. The Pioneers had another chance in the 24^th minute on a shot from Christian Jankuloski, but IC's Max Lichtenstein came up with the save in goal.
 
Ithaca made an offensive push in the final eight minutes of the first half, starting with a shot from Kyriakidis, which was saved by Coria. The Bombers registered three more shots in the closing minutes. Drew Cohn took back-to-back shots, but one was blocked and one went just above the goal. Kyriakidis closed out IC's first half with a shot that was saved by Coria.
 
The Bombers once again came out to control the pace in the second half, with a shot attempt just six seconds in from first-year Theo Scott.
 
Ithaca recorded six shots – from Tom Dillmann, Kyle Sicke, Alex Leahy, Scott, Schoen and Monnes – two corner kicks and a penalty kick before adding another goal to the board.
 
In the 64^th minute of play, Monnes played a ball up to Kyriakidis, who dribbled up and centered it, giving Monnes the chance to push it through and give IC a 2-0 advantage. The goal was Monnes' first of the season and third at Ithaca.
 
The Bombers continued to put together offense, generating five more shots and a corner kick before the game ended.
 
Tom Dillman's shot in the 74^th minute was blocked by Alfred before Schoen's header sailed wide in the 75^th minute.
 
Ithaca had a solid chance in the 81^st minute when Nate Mansfield sent a shot to goal, but it hit the crossbar.
 
In total, IC outshot Alfred State 27-4 and had six more corner kicks.
 
Kyriakidis registered three shots in his IC debut, all of which were on goal. Schoen and Monnes both finished with four shots total and two shots on goal apiece while Schnur added three shots.
 
In goal, Lichtenstein made two saves for the Bombers, earning the win, while Alfred State's Coria registered seven saves against IC.
 
The win marks the second straight year which IC won its season opener.
 
The Bombers are back in action on Sunday afternoon, at home. Ithaca takes on Wells College at 12 p.m. at Higgins Stadium. IC's SAAC will also be hosting the Bomber Bash, which will feature a barbecue at halftime. The women's soccer team will also be competing with Special Olympians at halftime.
 
"We look forward to getting back to work at training tomorrow and shoring up a few things we weren't great at today," said Dezotell. "We are very excited for Sunday at noon on Higgins Stadium against Wells for our second game of the year and the Bomber Bash taking place."