Geneva, N.Y. – The #15 Ithaca women's soccer team (15-4-0) scored the game-winning goal late in the second half and went on to a 1-0 victory over Muhlenberg (12-7-0) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament, hosted by William Smith College. The Bombers advance to Sunday's second round where they will play the William Smith Herons at 1 p.m.
The winning goal came off the foot of senior midfielder Amy Scheffer (Schalmont/Schenectady) in the 79th minute. The scoring play started on great pressure by freshman forward Rachael Palladino (Lansing/Groton) and senior midfielder Emily Mogk (Bozeman/Bozeman, Mont.) who forced a turnover by the Muhlenberg defense and sent Palladino in alone on net. Palladino's shot was saved by Muhlenberg goalkeeper Michele Toher, but the rebound fell to Scheffer at the top of the penalty area. She patiently approached the goal as three defenders and the goalkeeper recovered. Scheffer's low shot from eight yards was stopped by the defense, but she pursued the rebound near the goal line and forced it over the line.
It was the team-leading 14th goal of the season for Scheffer. The Bombers held on over the game's remaining 11:15 as junior goalkeeper Jessica Platt (Monument Mountain/New Marlborough, Mass.) was forced to make just one save in the second half on a slow shot from long range.
Ithaca's best scoring opportunity of the first half came in the eighth minute as freshman Julie Winn (Sutton/Sutton, Mass.) and Rachael Palladino played a passing combination at the top of the penalty area that sent Palladino clear for a hard right-foot shot that was blocked by a Muhlenberg defender.
Platt made a nice save at the right post on a low hard shot in the 30th minute and made another strong play six minutes later when she came off her line to challenge Muhlenberg's Meghan O'Grady who beat an Ithaca defender and tried to get a shot away before Platt tackled the ball away. Platt made three saves in the game and earned her third shutout of the year in improving her record to 4-1-1 on the season.
Ithaca threatened to break the scoreless tie early in the second half as Scheffer played a through ball to Rachael Palladino, who split two Muhlenberg defenders and was denied when Toher came off her line to make the save.
The Bombers are making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance and have advanced to the sectionals each of the last two seasons. No school has made more NCAA appearances.
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