ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College men's soccer team traveled to the Rochester Institute of Technology on Wednesday evening looking to keep its Liberty League playoff hopes alive. Behind three gritty second-half goals, the Bombers earned a 3–2 victory and snapped a six-game losing streak.
The opening 15 minutes were quiet, with both teams trading possession and committing a handful of fouls and offside calls. RIT was whistled for four fouls and two offsides, while Ithaca had one foul and three offsides.
The Bombers registered the game's first shot in the 21st minute when senior Trevor Barrett fired from outside the box. Moments later, Ithaca sent a dangerous cross into the area, but RIT goalkeeper Kristian Dobbek made the grab.
RIT's best chance of the half came in the 34th minute when Daniel Sucato broke into the right side of the box and fired a shot across goal, but Bombers goalkeeper Johannes Berghahn deflected it out of bounds. Both teams entered halftime knotted at 0–0 with three shots apiece, most of the action taking place in the midfield.
Ithaca came out aggressive in the second half, nearly scoring in the 46th minute when Ikey Borden slipped a through ball to Liam Breslin, whose shot was deflected for a corner.
The Bombers broke through in the 53rd minute. Borden headed a long free kick to Emmett Enriquez, who flicked it on to Barrett. The first year forward muscled past a defender and slotted the ball past Dobbek to give Ithaca a 1–0 lead.
Barrett and Borden connected again in the 64th minute. Colin Adams initiated the play with a pass to Borden on the left wing. Borden dribbled into the box and found Barrett at the far post, who finished to double the lead.
RIT responded quickly, earning a penalty kick in the 68th minute. Adrian Sobczak converted to cut the deficit to 2–1. Less than a minute later, Idriss Dialo found Serlom Dake in the center of the box, and Dake buried the equalizer to make it 2–2.
With playoff hopes on the line, the Bombers found the winner in the 80th minute. Jack Carney played a ball to Drew Warren, who dribbled to the top of the box and ripped a shot into the left side of the net to give Ithaca a 3–2 lead.
The Bombers held on for their first Liberty League win of the season and will return home to host Senior Day and Clarkson University at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
