WILLIAMSTOWN, MA — Senior midfielder Amy
Scheffer scored her second goal of the game with 3 minutes, 16
seconds left in overtime Saturday, lifting the No. 15 Ithaca
Bombers past Rowan University, 2-1, in an NCAA Tournament sectional
semifinal played on the campus of Williams College.
Ithaca (16-4-2) will play The College of New Jersey (19-1-2)
Sunday at 1 p.m. in the sectional final. The Lions upset host
Williams College, 1-0, Saturday. The winner of the Ithaca-TCNJ game
Sunday will advance to the national semifinals slated for San
Antonio, Texas on Dec. 4-5.
The winning goal came as Ithaca built a rush up the field. Freshman
midfielder Caroline Jastremski served the ball into the box from
the left flank to an open Scheffer, who headed the ball over a
Rowan defender and keeper Sarah Volkomer into the top left corner
from about 13 yards away.
After a scoreless first half that played out nearly even on the
pitch, it was Scheffer who opened the scoring, making a strong run
through the middle of the field, beating a Rowan back to set up a 1
on 1 with Volkomer and chipping a shot inside the right post with
31:50 to go in the game.
Ithaca continued to force the issue and only some timely saves by
Volkomir – she had all five of her stops in the second half
– kept it a one-goal game. Rowan was able to put some
counterattacks together and one finally paid off with 8:28
remaining in the game.
Prof midfielder Marina Mangano found NJAC Offensive Player of the
Year with a sharp pass. Babice, 25 yards out, turned and rocketed a
shot into the upper right-hand corner of the goal.
Ithaca nearly scored the go-ahead goal just 32 seconds later, but
an aggressive move by Volkomer allowed her to slide and block a
shot from 12 yards out by Megan Trager.
Ithaca held a 17-10 shot advantage in the game, 9-5 in the second
half. Bombers keeper Jessica Platt made three saves in the
contest. Rowan finished its season at 17-3-1.
