ITHACA, N.Y – On a crisp fall Saturday afternoon at Carp Wood Field, the Ithaca College men's soccer team edged SUNY Geneseo, 1–0, in a tightly contested non-conference matchup. First year midfielder
Ryan Levy played the hero, netting the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to keep the Bombers unbeaten at 3–0 on the season. The Knights dropped to 1–2 overall.
The opening stages saw both teams battling for control and rhythm. In the seventh minute, Ithaca earned a free kick in the attacking third, and
Myles Ryan directed a header on frame, but Geneseo goalkeeper Max Crothall made the save.
The Bombers continued to threaten off set pieces. In the 27th minute,
Jack Longo struck a dipping shot off a free kick that narrowly missed the target. Moments later,
Jared Krasnove slipped a pass through to
Emmett Enriquez, who found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but Crothall again came up big to keep the game scoreless.
Ithaca nearly broke through again when
Drew Warren delivered a dangerous cross from the wing that found
Jack Carney's left foot, but the shot went wide. On the other end,
Bryson Shaull made a key save on a header from Carraig Jones in the 41st minute to preserve the deadlock.
The teams entered halftime tied 0–0, with Ithaca holding a 7–3 advantage in shots, while placing four on goal.
Geneseo came out strong in the second half, nearly scoring in the 52nd minute when Michael Ruggiero forced Shaull into a diving save from the top of the box. Ithaca responded with a golden opportunity of its own as
Emile Antoine broke free on a counterattack, but his shot was deflected by Crothall and ricocheted off the crossbar.
The Knights generated back-to-back chances in the 66th minute, including a close-range effort that was again denied by Shaull. As the clock ticked down, both sides pushed for a breakthrough. Krasnove had a look from the top of the box in the 79th minute, but his shot sailed just wide.
The breakthrough finally came in the 87th minute. Ithaca's high press forced a turnover, where Levy pounced on a great long ball that was delivered by
Riley Donelan, drove toward goal, and calmly slotted a low shot into the bottom right corner. The goal proved decisive, as the Bombers held firm in the closing minutes to secure the 1–0 win.
Ithaca outshot Geneseo 13–8 and held a 5–2 edge in corner kicks.
Bryson Shaull finished with four saves—three in the second half—to earn his third consecutive shutout.
The Bombers will now hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Misericordia University for a non-conference clash on Wednesday, September 10. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
