CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 23 Ithaca College women's lacrosse team made the short trip up Route 13 to take on rival Cortland in Spring-like weather on Saturday afternoon and came away with a 16-15 overtime victory. Ithaca overcame a seven-goal deficit in the third quarter to secure the Bombers' second straight overtime win at Cortland. IC is now 3-0 on the season.
The noon game at SUNY Cortland began with Cortland coming out strong scoring in the first 40 seconds of the game. Within the first two minutes of the game the Bombers fell to 0-2 as the Cortland offense continued to pound away. As the Bombers goalie
Mikaela Dattilo made her first save of the day and senior defender
Phoebe Hosford scooped up the ground ball on the ricochet of the save. Hosford passed the ball to
Lily Cody who netted the first goal of the day with 10:44 remaining in the quarter. On the next play Cody once again found the back of the net tying the game at 2-2.
Leigh Naturale put the Bombers in the lead with 9:08 remaining as she capitalized on a feed from
Kelly Augeri. As Cortland continued to pound away at the Bombers' defense the first quarter wrapped up with Cortland in a three-goal lead.
Early in the second quarter the Bomber offense took numerous attempts to meet the Dragons at 7 as shots went high and wide from Cody and
Kathryn Scallon. As Cortland continued to pile on to their lead the Bombers defense remained with high hopes as Dattilo stood sturdy in goal. With 9:17 left in the half Augeri netted another goal bringing the score to 5-9 Cortland. Heading into the halftime huddle the Bombers planted themselves in a six-goal deficit to come back from.
Right out of the halftime huddle, Cortland came out strong, netting their 13th goal of the game. The game went back and forth for the majority of the third quarter as the Bombers tried to get back in the game. With 3:18 left in the third the score sat 7-14 Cortland as the Bombers began to seek the ultimate comeback. With 40 seconds left in the quarter Scallon netted a goal off a feed from Naturale shortening the Red Dragon lead to six.
Out of the game in the final quarter, Cody netted back-to-back goals as Augeri piled on top bringing the bombers within 2 with 12:54 left in the game. As Cortland scored their 15th goal of the game Augeri quickly responded, maintaining the two-goal deficit. As Cody won yet another draw control, Naturale was able to capitalize on the possession bringing the Bombers within one.
With 1:18 remaining Naturale tied the game up at 15 apiece, sending the game into OT. In overtime Cody secured yet another draw as she passed it over the Augeri who netted the game-winning shot. The Bombers secured the win in overtime with a final score of 16-15.
The Bombers will host their first home game of the season next Saturday, March 7 against No. 25 Scranton at 1 p.m.
