Bombers Make E8 Tourney, Oust Stevens
from press release
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca men's lacrosse team scored the
last four goals of the game and won 11-8 against Stevens Saturday
afternoon at Upper Terrace Field. With the victory, Ithaca clinched
an Empire 8 playoff berth and will play at St. John FIsher in a
semifinal Friday afternoon.
The four-goal fourth-quarter run for the Bombers started with a
goal from junior midfielder Ryan Lowe (Fairport/Fairport) to tie
the score 8-8 just 1:23 after Stevens took its first lead of the
game. Five minutes later junior midfielder Jay Lucas (Fox
Lane/Bedford Hills) ripped a shot into the upper corner to put the
Bombers ahead. Sophomore Tom Mongelli (Kinnelon/Kinnelon, N.J.) and
Lucas added goals in the final three minutes to clinch the
victory.
Junior goalie David Gal (Loomis Chaffee/Amherst, Mass.) made 14
saves and the Bombers converted two of four extra-man
opportunities.
Ithaca built a 5-0 lead in the first half and its largest lead was
six at 7-1. Senior Nic Heckman (Sparta/Sparta, N.J.) assisted on
five goals, a career-high in assists for Heckman. Senior attackman
Mike Lohan (Calhoun/Merrick) scored twice. Freshman Brian DiBetta
(John Jay/Katonah), junior midfielder Michael Silipo (Williston
Northampton/Deerfield, Mass.) and sophomore attackman Devin
Weinshank (Long Beach/Long Beach) also scored first-half goals for
Ithaca.
Senior midfielder Nick Neuman (West/Madison, Wis.) won 16 of 23
faceoffs in the game, including the first six of the game as Ithaca
seized the early advantage.
The other Bomber seniors, Roniel Bencosme (Sleepy Hollow/Sleepy
Hollow) and Nick Powers (Bridgewater-Raritan/Bridgewater, N.J.)
helped Ithaca control possession and were part of Ithaca's team
defense which held its opponent to nine goals or fewer for the
sixth game in a row.
