ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team is off to its best start in years as the Bombers took down Brockport, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon at Carp Wood Field.
 
Ithaca has not started a season with five wins in six games since 2008 when the team started 5-1. Additionally, the Bombers' program has not started the first six games without a loss since the 1999 season, a year which IC reached the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Golden Eagles were the ones to strike first in the 14^th minute of play. Ayub Jeylani intercepted an IC pass and was able to fire a shot around goalkeeper Max Lichtenstein, putting Brockport up 1-0. The goal was Jeylani's fifth of the season.
 
After several chances, the Bombers finally tied things up in the 32^nd minute. Jon Kyriakidis made a short cross to first-year Theo Scott, who made an athletic play to put the ball into the net for his first career goal.
 
Ithaca wasted no time in adding more pressure, securing a corner kick in the 35^th minute, which led to another goal. Senior Nate Schoen made a diving play to keep the ball inbounds, where sophomore Ben Quatresols was there to finish it. It was also the first goal of Quatresols career, as he is primarily a defender for IC.
 
"We are very pleased with our entire group today," said Head Coach Kyle Dezotell. "Once again, we had to dig in after going behind early and respond to a bit of adversity. I thought our first-half subs completely changed the game and gave us the spark we needed to start the comeback."
 
The Bombers once again scored two goals in quick succession in the second half. After a scramble in front of the goal, Brockport goalie Tautis Poniskaitis deflected the ball, but sophomore Drew Cohn was there to get the rebound and sent it right back into the net in the 62^nd minute.
 
Ithaca then took a 4-1 lead in the 64^th minute on a Tom Dillman free kick from the top of the box.
 
Both teams had several opportunities for more goals throughout the game.
 
Brockport put four shots on goal in the first half, including the first goal of the game. The Golden Eagles also tested Lichtenstein three times. Lichtenstein made all three saves in the 29^th, 36^th and 40^th minutes of play to keep IC in the lead.
 
On the other side of things, the Bombers also forced Poniskaitis to make saves.
 
Ithaca first tested the Brockport goalkeeper in the 17^th minute on a Quatresols header before Schoen had a solid attempt which necessitated a diving save.
 
Another header from Quatresols in the 25^th minute and a header from Nate Mansfield in the 26^th minute were saved by Poniskaitis as well.