ITHACA, NY– As the Liberty League playoffs began on South Hill's Carp Wood Field, the Ithaca College men's soccer team were prepared to win or go home. The Bombers put in a hard-fought battle in their 2-1 victory over the Vassar Brewers as they trailed early but bounced back with two unanswered goals to advance to Friday's semifinals.
This Liberty League battle on a cold and wet Carp Wood Field was off to an eventful start from both sides. Ithaca got things going offensively first where forward
Connor Tierney ripped a shot that went top left, and
Gustav Bauerle had an attempt where Vassar's keeper Vasilis Ganasoulis recorded his first two saves of the game within the first nine minutes of the half.
It was the Brewers who fought back to put the first tally on the board, with Duncan Keker ripping a goal from the outside of the box that was nothing but net. This offensive spurt from the visitors put Vassar up 1-0, but the Bombers were ready to fight back.
The deficit caused a Bombers burst offensively which resulted in multiple shot attempts that were saved, when finally,
Jared Krasnove was able to put a ball on net.
Colin Adams sent a beautiful ball across the byline where Krasnove was there to tap that ball in tying the game 1-1 heading into the half.
Ithaca College entered the second half with pure grit as they limited the Brewers opportunities offensively, while also making a strong effort to bring home this battle. Ithaca had multiple scoring opportunities and pressured the Brewers defense without letting-up.
Ithaca came out physical as ever causing an early foul resulting in a yellow card on
Landon Hellwig. Vassar's surge of energy caused for early shots on net for the Brewers, but Ithaca's defense held them off from racking up another tally on the score board early on.
It was an offensive battle against the Brewers defense which switched the momentum to Ithaca's favor. Carp Wood Field was roaring for a Bombers goal next.
After a few offensive chances,
Thaib Abidi was able to tuck it away in the lower left-hand corner with four minutes left in regular time. A Vassar foul put the ball outside the box for a Bombers free kick where
Brendan Lebitsch was able to head the ball back into the 18' which was settled and slotted in past the keeper by Abidi.
Vassar tried to fight back with the remaining minutes left in the game but they were unable to convert. Ithaca wound up taking the quarterfinal of Liberty League Tournament on Carp Wood with a final score of 2-1.
Connor Tierney and
Landon Hellwig recorded a combined four shot attempts along with eight total shots on goal by the Bombers offense.
Johannes Berghahn had a strong showing recording three saves in net.
Ithaca College will now advance to the semifinals of the Liberty League Tournament on Friday November 3. The Bombers will face the Union College Garnet Chargers in Schenectady N.Y.
