ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca College men's soccer team remained undefeated with a commanding 1-0 victory over King's College on Saturday afternoon at Carp Wood Field. The Bombers improved to 5-0, the first time they've won five-straight to begin a season since 2007.
The Bombers recorded their fourth shutout of the season, all with senior goalkeeper
Bryson Shaull anchoring the defense in net. Shaull made a key early save and helped Ithaca limit the Monarchs to just three total shots, none of which were on target in the second half.
Midfielder
Jack Longo led the Bombers offensively with four shots and provided the assist on the game's lone goal. In the 20th minute, Longo delivered a precise pass through a crowded defense to set up forward
Emmett Enriquez who was left one-on-one and netted his first goal of the season.
Ithaca opened the match in a defensive 3-6-1 formation, with junior forward
Jack Carney starting on the bench and
Jack Walker leading the offensive charge from the top. The Bombers controlled possession early, allowing just one shot on goal in the first 15 minutes—a strike from King's forward Jackson Nuttall, which was stopped by Shaull.
Carney entered in the 16th minute, helping Ithaca ramp up its offensive pressure. Despite several promising attacks, the Bombers were hampered by offsides calls throughout the first half, finishing with four violations.
In the second half, Ithaca matched its first half shot total within the first 11 minutes. One of the best chances came on a breakaway by
Kloden Rapp, whose powerful shot was blocked by King's defender James Leonard.
Although Ithaca added seven more shots in the second half, the match remained a defensive battle. The Bombers held King's without a shot on goal for the final 34 minutes to secure the win.
With five-straight victories over unranked opponents to start the season, Ithaca now turns its attention to a major test on Wednesday night. The Bombers will travel to face nationally ranked No. 4 SUNY Cortland at 7 p.m. from T. Fred Holloway Field.
