KEENE, N.H. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team won its first NCAA Tournament game since 2002 with a 2-1 win over Keene State on Saturday afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex.
 
The Bombers are now 13-5-2 on the year and face No. 1 Amherst tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m., at Keene State.
 
Ithaca came out fired up and took an early lead, just 16 minutes in, over the Owls. After some back-and-forth, physical action between the teams, it was sophomore Thomas Pierce who gave the Bombers the one-goal edge. Following a long throw from first-year Aidan Keenan, the ball was knocked to Pierce by a Keene State defender and he fired it into the opposite corner for his third goal of the season.
 
The Owls, however, were quick to respond, scoring less than six minutes later. Keene State's LJ Luster took a pass from Emmanuel Smith and fired it in to even the score, 1-1.
 
With just 51 seconds remaining in the first half, Ithaca struck again, scoring what would ultimately be the game-winner. Sophomore Kyle Sicke played a ball to fellow sophomore Theo Scott who sent it in past a diving Nate Howard in goal. It was Scott's team-leading eighth goal of the season.
 
Both teams had several chances to score from the start of the game until the clocked ticked down to zero in the second half.
 
Ithaca immediately took control of the game from the first whistle, as Sicke generated IC's first shot-on-goal just 52 second in, which was saved by Howard. Less than one minute later, Luster tested senior Max Lichenstein for the first time, but he came up with the stop to send things the other way.
 
The Bombers nearly had another scoring opportunity less than two minutes after the first goal of the day, as first-year Aidan Keenan put one on-frame, but it was stopped by Howard.
 
Lichtenstein made his second save of the game in the 30^th minute, stopping a shot from James McCully to keep the Owls from taking the lead.
 
In the 33^rd minute, senior Tom Dillmann had a chance as he sent a shot toward the bottom center, but once again Howard made the play.
 
Things got more intense during the second half as the Owls were looking to score the equalizer and the Bombers were looking to hold onto their lead.
 
Ithaca controlled much of the action to start the second half, generating three shots and three corner kicks in the first 13 minutes.
 
A shot from Keenan in the 49^th minute was stopped by Howard before IC was award a corner kick less than two minutes later.
 
Ithaca kept things in its offensive end, leading to an Ali Kapasi shot in the 52^nd minute, which was also saved.
 
Following back-to-back corner kicks for the Bombers, Kapasi had another chance in the 58^th minute, but Howard stayed strong to keep Ithaca from a third goal.
 
The Owls continued to pressure Ithaca's defense as the clock ticked down, but the Bombers and Lichtenstein remained tough.
 
Lichtenstein made two saves on two shots from McCully before Keene State earned three corner kicks in the span of less than one minute. IC's strong defenders cleared the ball and stopped the threat from the Owls, shutting down the offense and leading to the win.
 
In net, Lichtenstein finished the day with four saves – two in each half – while Howard made seven for the Owls.
 
Ithaca will face No. 1 Amherst tomorrow for a chance to advance to next weekend's Sweet 16 against the winner of Mary Washington/Rowan.