ITHACA, N.Y. – A late goal from junior Alex Epifani pushed the Ithaca College women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Cortland on Wednesday afternoon. The Bombers are now 3-1-1 on the season.
 
After nearly 83 minutes of scoreless play, Epifani finally broke through for the Bombers to put them on the board. At the 82:37 mark, she scored her third goal of the season as she took a header from Elise Leavitt, made a move around a defender for a breakaway and fired into the opposite side of the net for the goal.
 
Ithaca kept up the pressure on Cortland's defense from the jump, firing off a total of 18 shots, including nine on goal throughout the competition.
 
Senior Ally Christman wasted no time in testing goalkeeper Danika Svendsen, notching a shot on goal just 1:45 in. Senior Jordyn Haynes did the same in the 16^th minute, but Svendsen held strong for both the saves.
 
Epifani put her first shot on frame in the 25^th minute, which Svendsen also saved to keep IC off the board.
 
In the first half, the Bombers' defense held strong against Cortland, limited the Red Dragons. Grace Paliwodzinski fired off the lone shot of the half in the 33^rd minute, but it sailed wide.
 
Ithaca doubled down in the second half, recording 13 of its 18 shots.
 
Senior Gabriella Mihale put a shot on frame just 3:35 into play, but Svendsen came up with the save.
 
It looked like Epifani would put the Bombers on the board earlier in the second half, as she had a great chance in the 56^th minute. After taking a cross from Christman, Epifani fired off a shot which just missed the goal and sailed out of bounds.
 
The Bombers had an aggressive offensive push starting in the 64^th minute where they earned two corner kicks and fired off three shots in the span of a minute. Just prior to that, senior goalkeeper Sara Jakobsze made her first of three saves in the net, stopping a Sabrina Rodrigues shot in the 61^st minute.
 
Ithaca drew a corner kick at the 63:38 mark which led to a shot from junior Kelsey Espenhorst, which was blocked out of bounds. That led to another corner kick and a skirmish in front of the net. Sophomore Megan Buttinger's attempt was saved by Svendsen, and sophomore Megan O'Reilly tried to capitalize on the rebound, but it was blocked by a Cortland defender.
 
Jakobsze made her second save of the day in the 70^th minute, as she stopped a shot from Cortland's Gabrielle Savage.
 
The Bombers once again took the ball down the field looking to get a goal on the board. Epifani sent a shot to goal in the 70^th minute and McKensie Galusha had an attempted in the 73^rd minute, but Svendsen came up with the saves.
 
Jakobsze stopped her final shot of the day on a Ro Hernandez attempted in the 80^th minute, keeping the Red Dragons off the board and sending things the other day, which ultimately led to the Bombers scoring.
 
Following Epifani's goal with just over seven minutes left to play, Ithaca's defense held strong, stopping any attempts Cortland made to put away the equalizer.
 
The Bombers are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Nazareth for a 12 p.m. contest, which is part of a doubleheader with the men's team. IC is away again next Tuesday at Elmira before returning home on Tuesday, September 24 against St. John Fisher.