ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team opened up the 2019 slate with a convincing 4-0 win over New York University on Friday afternoon.
 
The Bombers, who are now 1-0 on the season, wasted no time in getting on the board, scoring their first goal less than five minutes into the competition.
 
Tom Dillmann sent a free kick up to senior Justinian Michaels, who was there to finish it and put IC on the board. The goal marks Michaels' third career goal on South Hill, as he is primarily a defensive force for the Bombers.
 
Ithaca put its second goal on the board relatively quickly, as sophomore Alex Leahy found the back of the net in the 12^th minute of play. Leahy went on a breakaway, blocked a potential clear from NYU's goalkeeper Luca Mancuso and was able to bring the ball in and easily score. It is Leahy's first career goal at IC.
 
It looked like Ithaca might put another one away immediately, as Zack Lichtman sent a shot to goal in the 14^th minute, but Mancuso made the save.
 
The Bombers put up one final goal in the first half in the 39^th minute. Ali Kapasi, a sophomore transfer, was the one to find the back of the net this time, putting Ithaca up 3-0 at the break.
 
Ithaca scored its final goal of the game in the second half, with 22:38 remaining on the clock. After a scuffle in the front of the goal, it was ultimately an own-goal for NYU, bumping IC's lead to 4-0.
 
"We have to be happy with that performance," said Head Coach Kyle Dezotell. "The first 45 minutes was the best have of soccer in my here and we were nearly unplayable. Our energy, physicality and commitment as a team was excellent."
 
IC dominated play from the beginning not allowing a Violets' shot until the 17^th minute. Goalkeeper Max Lichtenstein, however, easily stopped it and sent the ball the other way. NYU's lone remaining shot of the first half from Jake Velvel was blocked by an IC defender.
 
Lichtenstein made his second save of the game in the 66^th minute, stopping a shot from Steven Hess to preserve IC's shutout.
 
While both teams had shots through the remainder of the second half, neither would put up a goal in the remaining 22 minutes of play. The damage was done, however, as Ithaca walked away with the 4-0 win.
 
The Bombers are back on Carp Wood Field tomorrow, Saturday, August 31 as they round out the Finger Lakes Fall Classic with a match against No. 5 Messiah at 3 p.m. Messiah is coming off a 1-0 loss to Hobart on Friday afternoon.
 
"We are pleased to beat a top team in NYU," said Dezotell. "We are excited for another opportunity tomorrow against one of the top programs in the country in Messiah."

Honoring Jase Barrack

Prior to the match against NYU, Michaels, President Collado and Athletics Director Susan Bassett along with the Barrack family, presented Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training Program Director Paul Geisler with a jersey in Jase's memory. The IC men's club soccer team and the softball team were also in attendance as Jase was a club soccer player and worked with the softball team as a student athletic trainer. The jersey, honoring Jase, will hang in the athletic training clinic on South Hill.