CLEVELAND, OHIO – The Ithaca College women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 1–0 win over Capital University at DiSanto Field at Case Western University.
Julia Cascone's smashing finish just before the halftime break was enough for the win as the Bombers looked fantastic defensively.
It was an even opening to the start of the match. The Bombers outshot the Comets 3-2 through the first 20 minutes, but none of them could test either goalkeeper.
The first big chance at goal came from a Capital set piece about 25-yards out in the 27th minute. Avery Hart's free kick forced
Claire Reader to make a diving save to push the ball wide. The ensuing corner found the head of a Comets attacker who directed the ball just wide of the net.
For a moment in the 33rd minute, the Bombers thought they had broken the deadlock. A brilliant ball by
Rachel Richards troubled the goalkeeper in a crowd of defenders and
Kaitlyn Weis looked to have buried the rebound. The officials, however, determined that the goalkeeper was fouled in the chaos, and the scored remained level.
The Bombers breakthrough came in the 45th minute, just seconds before the halftime whistle.
Rosie Bostian sent Cascone down the corner, looking to get one more chance at goal. Cascone faked the cross with her left, cutting back on her right around her defender. She took a touch and curled a brilliant ball into the top right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance to make a save.
With a 1–0 in the second half, the Bombers shut down the Comets attack, allowing just one shot on goal in the half. Great pressure from the attackers and a solid structure in the midfield challenged the Comets to apply pressure.
The Bombers had three shots off target in the half but looked comfortable to sit back and play conservatively. As the Comets tried desperately to equalize, the Bombers broke away with a big attacking opportunity to close out the match. Bostian found the ball at her feet and fired a shot just high of the goal.
The Bombers continued to apply pressure in the final few minutes of the game, not allowing the Comets to create any chances to the final whistle. The Bombers celebrated the final whistle, earning a shutout in each of its three post-season matches this season.
The Bombers remain in Cleveland, Ohio to face the hosts, No. 4 ranked Case Western Reserve University, on Sunday at 1 p.m.
