Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's soccer team opened up Liberty League play with a 5-0 victory over Bard College on Saturday afternoon. The Bombers are now 8-1-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference action.
 
"We are very pleased to start off Liberty League play with 3 points at home," said Head Coach Kyle Dezotell. "I thought our players worked extremely hard today and were rewarded for their efforts with five goals."
 
Senior Max Barish scored two goals for IC while sophomore Theo Scott netted his team-leading fifth goal of the season. First-years Brendan Lebitsch and Aidan Keenan both scored their first career goals on South Hill in the win.
 
Ithaca had numerous chances to score, as the Bombers registered 26 total shots with 12 on-goal.
 
After several chances in the opening minutes of the first half, Ithaca finally capitalized on its momentum in the 24^th minute. Senior Tom Dillmann found Barish in the box, who fired it off for the first goal of the game.
 
Barish did it again 4:18 later to put IC up, 2-0. Sophomore Alex Leahy sent a long pass into the box where Barish got a head on it to send it into the top left of the net.
 
It looked like Barish may complete a hat trick, as just 45 seconds after his second goal, he sent another header into, but it sailed wide.
 
Ithaca added one more goal in the first half to head into the break with a 3-0 edge. Barish picked up the assist this time as he sent the ball to Scott sent it past goalkeeper Adel Elkafas.
 
The Bombers came out strong in the second half, registering five shots before putting another goal on the board.
 
Barish's first shot of the half, just 1:02 in, was wide. Following an IC corner kick, Barish got a head on the ball again, which was blocked by a Bard defender. He followed that up with another shut, which also sailed wide.
 
Scott nearly had his second goal of the game in the 55^th minute, as he sent a header in which hit off the crossbar and went out.
 
Lebitsch scored his first career goal on a pass from junior Jonathan Kyriakidis to push IC's advantage to 4-0 in the 65^th minute.
 
Ithaca continued to press offensively and added its fifth and final goal with just under four minutes left to play.
 
Keenan took a short pass from first-year Jack McCarthy and chipped the ball in over Elkafas' head, giving the Bombers a five-goal lead.
 
Senior Max Lichtenstein and junior Lee Folger combined for the shutout in the net. Neither faced a shot on goal, as the lone Bard goal of the day was wide.
 
Elkafas made six saves on the day for Bard, and allowed all five goals. Starting goalkeeper Logan Leppo made one save before exiting the game.
 
The Bombers are back in action on Wednesday afternoon with a 4 p.m. match against Hobart on Carp Wood Field. Hobart has played two Liberty League contests so far, coming away with a 3-2 win over RIT on Wednesday and a 3-0 win against Skidmore today.