MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The nationally ranked No. 8 Ithaca College women's lacrosse team fell to No. 11 Pomona-Pitzer, 17-9, in the NCAA Division III Third Round at Middlebury College. The Bombers finish the season with an 18-2 record.

The Bombers had two early chances to take the lead as Sydney Phillips fired off both shots, one was saved and the other hit a pipe. IC also played the opening minute a player up as the Sagehens were whistled for a green card just 15 seconds into the contest.

Pomona-Pitzer would score the game's opening goal at the 11:35 mark of the first quarter on an unassisted tally.

Lexi Kellish tied the contest at 1-1 on a free position goal with 10:49 on the clock and then the Bombers took a 2-1 lead as Lily Cody lost her defender with a juke and beat the Sagehens' goalie just 38 seconds later.

The Sagehens knotted the game back up at 2-2 with 9:34 remaining in the first quarter, which would be the final goal of the opening 15 minutes of the game.

Phillips got another chance at a free position less than 30 seconds into the second quarter and cashed in on the attempt to put IC back ahead, 3-2. Pomona would score the next four goals of the quarter to go back in front, 6-3, with just over four minutes remaining before halftime.

The Bombers were limited to three shots over the final 7:18 of the second quarter and went into intermission trailing by a 6-3 score. IC's three goals in the first half were the second fewest all season.

IC went into the third quarter a player down and Pomona-Pitzer capitalized on that chance and scored 57 seconds into the period to extend their lead to 7-3.

The Bombers ended their scoreless drought as Pomona threw the ball away deep in its own zone and then Leigh Naturale quickly picked up the ball and found Maizy Veitch unguarded at the cage to make it 7-4 with 10:01 to go in the third.

After the Sagehens went back up by four goals at 8-4, the Bombers responded less than 30 seconds later to keep it at a three-goal difference as Caroline Wise scored off a pass from Veitch. It was short-lived, however, as Pomona found the back of the net again to make it 9-5 with 7:22 on the clock and IC called a timeout.

Chloe Nordyke then blew by the entire Pomona defense as she caught a pass at midfield on a clear and scored at the 6:27 mark to pull the Bombers back to within three at 9-6. Pomona put home another goal with just over a minute on the clock to take a 10-6 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Pomona dominated the fourth quarter and outscored the Bombers, 7-3, over the final 15 minutes of action to pull off the 17-9 win.

Phillips, Veitch and Juliana Esposito scored goals for the Bombers in the fourth quarter.

Lexi Held made 14 saves in the loss, including 10 in the second half.