Strong second half propels men’s soccer to continue streak

Sophomore foward Emile Antoine dribbles past Clarkson defender as the Bombers would go onto win 5-2.

The Ithaca College men’s soccer team won 5-2 against the SUNY Oswego Lakers on Sept. 20 at Butterfield stadium. The Bombers, 7-0-1, poured it on in the second half as they scored all of their goals in the frame. Persistent pressure was the name of the game as they registered three times as many shots in the latter half than the Lakers.

The win saw the Bombers continue their entourage of goals during the weekend as they also won by three goals Sept. 19 against Moravian University. This influx of goals has been something that the team has improved on compared to last season. The measly 1.118 goals per game from last season has flourished to 2.5, which ranks 2nd in the Liberty League so far.

IC trailed 0-1 after the Lakers easily put away a rebound after a set piece only 22 seconds into the game. The Bombers spent the rest of the first half searching for an answer but finally got it in the second half. Head coach Gabe Kuhn injected some life into the attack when he turned to upperclassmen like senior defender Colin Adams, senior defender Nick Dignazio and junior midfielder Josh Bourdoulous out of the break.

“They bring experience, they bring energy, they bring that tenacity that we need,” Kuhn said.

It took just 3 minutes for the Bombers to equalize with Bourdoulous rocketing one into the back of the net from outside the box. Oswego regained the lead in the 55th minute, once again from a set piece but the South Hill squad scored four unanswered goals over the final 25 minutes.

The next goal came courtesy of Bourdoulous. This time, he was on the providing end as one of his crosses found the head of senior forward Jack Carney as he directed it into the net. Even though it was his first goal of the season, Bourdoulous said the assist meant more.

“I think I took the assist in a little bit more,” Bourdoulous said. “The goal, I kind of ran off, grabbed the ball and went to go back. But that first assist was sweet, knowing that we went 2-1 down and then had to rally back up again. To get to 2-2 was just a really, really surreal feeling.”

Less than a minute and a half after Carney’s goal, first-year midfielder Gabriel Robinson got the home crowd on its feet. He took a sweet first touch that led to him cutting in and curling the ball into the corner of the net for the first goal of his collegiate career, putting the Bombers up 3-2.

Adams made it 4-2 in the 73rd minute off an assist from senior midfielder Liam Breslin, and Robinson capped the scoring with a penalty kick in the 79th.

IC also held Oswego to seven shots, and senior goalkeeper Brayden Milbrandt made three saves for his seventh win of the season. Both Oswego goals came on set pieces, and Kuhn said that cleaning up those moments is a focus.

“I think our defensive shape [is something] we are constantly working on, and communication, and knowing where we got to be in certain times,” Kuhn said.

Oswego had the lead twice, once in each half, but both times the Bombers found their way back. Kuhn said the resiliency of the team makes him proud.

“They’re just mentally tough. They don’t give up,” Kuhn said. “We gave guys a shot in the first half, and then put in some other guys in the second half, and just did it.”

The Bombers host No. 11 SUNY Cortland at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Butterfield Stadium.

“We’re here to compete, and we’re here to beat them at the end of the day,” Bourdoulous said.

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