POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Ithaca College women's soccer team traveled to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to face No. 1 seed Vassar College in the Liberty League Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon. The Bombers entered the matchup with an 8-5-4 record after advancing past Skidmore with a 3–0 win in the opening round.
The first half featured back-and-forth possession, with senior
Kaelyn Fernandez controlling the midfield and firing a shot on target in the 29th minute. With 10 minutes remaining in the half,
Ali Amari and
Lilyana Baldi combined for an attack down the right side of the pitch that resulted in a shot from
Lily Fusco.
Vassar threatened late in the half, breaking through the Bombers backline with four minutes to play, but goalkeeper
Katrina Varnum made a crucial save and then intercepted the ensuing corner kick to keep the game scoreless. Defenders
Reese Ruegamer and
Zara Nourie anchored a strong defensive effort as Ithaca entered halftime tied 0–0 while leading the shot count 6–4. Baldi and Fusco paced the Bombers with two shots each.
Ithaca opened the second half aggressively, generating a shot from
Devin Sylvia before Vassar responded with two free kicks deep in Bomber territory, both cleared by the defense. Varnum came up big again in the 58th minute, stopping a shot inside the 18-yard box following a Vassar corner. Moments later, Fernandez intercepted a pass and switched play to
Ava Detorie, whose shot was saved by the Brewers' keeper.
Despite sustained pressure from Vassar, Ithaca's defense held firm throughout regulation, blocking multiple attempts and sparking counterattacks through Ruegamer and Amari. After 90 minutes, the score remained 0–0, sending the match into a 10-minute sudden-death overtime.
Just one minute into the extra period, Vassar capitalized on a rebound inside the box to score the game-winner, as Gianna Panarelli pounced on the loose ball and found the back of the net. The Bombers finished with a 9–8 advantage in shots and showcased a resilient defensive performance.
Ithaca concludes the 2025 season with an 8-6-4 overall record.
