HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Ithaca College women's soccer team opened up the 2018 season with a strong, 3-1, victory over Centenary University in the Cyclone Kickoff Classic.
 
Senior Shoshana Bedrosian began her final campaign as a Bomber in memorable fashion, netting all three goals for IC. Bedrosian is no stranger to multi-goal games, as she had several as a junior.
 
The Bombers dominated play from the beginning, recording six shots and four corners prior to putting a goal on the board.
 
Bedrosian converted for IC in the 17^th minute of play, slipping a shot past Centenary goalie Rachel Colt to find the back of the net.
 
It would be the lone goal of the first half for either team, but IC was not without its chances. The Bombers attempted another five shots and recorded four corners before heading into the half.
 
Junior transfer Elise Leavitt's shot attempt was stopped by Colt in the 22^nd minute before a Bedrosian shot sailed high in the 26^th minute. Junior Gabriella Mihale had a shot blocked in the 30^th minute of play while Alex Epifani's shot in the 44^th minute was saved by a Centenary player.
 
IC forced three corners in the final minute of play before squeezing in one more header from Mihale, which went high.
 
The first shot of the second half, from Alex Epifani, was saved by Colt in the 50^th minute. Mihale followed that up with a high shot before Epifani nearly scored, but the ball hit the crossbar in the 53^rd minute.
 
It would not take much longer for the Bombers to capitalize on their offensive momentum, as Bedrosian took a cross from Epifani in the 59^th minute and knocked it in past Colt. The goal, which put Ithaca up 2-0 over the Cyclones, was Bedrosian's second of the afternoon.
 
Centenary drew its first corner kick of the game in the 68^th minute, which led to a shot which was saved by IC's Sara Jakobsze in goal.
 
Ithaca once again gained possession of the ball and headed down field, setting up Bedrosian for her third and final goal of the contest.
 
Ally Christman set the play up with a cross into the center of the box, and Bedrosian was there to finish it, putting IC up 3-0 with just over 15 minutes left to play.
 
First-year Stella Campodonico drilled a shot towards Colt, which was saved and sent the other way. The up-field momentum led to the Cyclones scoring their lone goal of the game in the 78^th minute to cut IC's lead to 3-1.
 
Chloe Christopher crossed a ball, which junior Stephanie Williams knocked in for her first goal of the season.
 
Both Ithaca and Centenary tried adding more goals to the board, but both teams fell short of that.
 
Campodonico sent a shot towards goal in the 80^th minute, but it sailed while before a Jenny Lidwin shot went high.
 
In the final seven minutes of play, the Cyclones made an offensive push which included three shots and a corner, but time ran out before they could produce any results. A Williams' shot was wide of the goal before Kara LaPolice had a shot blocked. Sam Bombardiere's header sailed wide and Centenary could not do anything with the ensuing corner kick.
 
Statistically, the Bombers recorded 22 shots to Centenary's eight. IC also drew 10 corner kicks while the Cyclones had just two.
 
Bedrosian finished with six shots, including four on goal and three goals while Alex Epifani drilled three shots, two of which were on goal.
 
Jakobsze made four saves in her first start of the year.
 
The win boosts the Bombers record to 1-0 and gives them momentum as they round out the Cyclone Kickoff Classic tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. against Westfield State.