Despite a lack of offensive production, the Ithaca College women’s soccer looked sharp on defense as they finished their penultimate home match with a physical 0–0 draw against the Vassar College Brewers Oct. 21 at Carp Wood Field.

The Bombers saw plenty of opportunities to score, taking 13 shots on Brewers senior goalkeeper Teresa Zimmer, but Zimmer recorded a clean sheet at the end of the day with four saves, each coming from a different Bombers attacker. The Bombers controlled possession for most of the game, creating optimal scoring opportunities on six corner kicks. 

On the other half of the pitch, the Bombers played a physical brand of defense, drawing contact on several of its challenges. Despite Vassar’s intentions to spread out on offense, the Bombers held strong for all 90 minutes. 

Senior defender Clare Sunderland emphasized the work the team did in keeping Vassar’s offense in check and said that she believed the team worked as one unit.

“We had to focus a lot on team defense and staying compact,” Sunderland said. “Staying together and working as a team and I think we really did that today.” 

Bombers junior goalkeeper Grace Hickey recorded six saves en route to her fifth consecutive shutout, providing a steady presence for the team as the regular season nears its end. 

While her individual play was exceptional, Hickey was also pleased with the performance of her defensive unit and said that they have contributed to the success she has had all year.

“I think that a lot of our success this year has come from our back line,” Hickey said. “I think that as a unit, [the team] looks really good.”

With two minutes remaining in the game, the Bombers made a late push to try and get the win. Senior forward Rosie Bostian launched a shot towards the Vassar net, but the late attempt was denied by the Brewers. 

Following the Brewers’ save, momentum pushed the Brewers upfield, setting up senior midfielder Jessica Young for a shot against Hickey. Hickey denied the shot headed to the bottom right corner of the goal and the Bombers picked up a draw as they head closer to the playoffs.

With the postseason looming in the distance, Ithaca will be jockeying for seeding in the Liberty League Tournament, making their final two contests of the season some of its most important.

With the draw, the Bombers moved to 9–2–2 on the year, with two games left in the regular season. The Bombers will next face the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers in its last home game at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Carp Wood Field.