The Ithaca College men’s soccer team fell to No. 10 SUNY Cortland as the Red Dragons took control early with sophomore defender Jake Chung leading the charge to a 2-1 victory.
Heading into the match, the Bombers had a tough history against the Red Dragons, with a 29-55-12 all-time record. Their last win came more than 15 years ago in 2009.
The Red Dragons scored just over a minute into the game when graduate student midfielder Mateo Marra headed a throw-in from graduate student forward Jordan Miller, setting up Chung to find the back of the net. From this very moment, the Red Dragons dug their claws into the South Hill squad, controlling the momentum and energy for the entire match. Bombers’ junior forward Jared Krasnove said starting the match off strong is a priority for the future.
“[There is] definitely a lot to build off of, but especially the start of the game,” Krasnove said. “I think we got to come out more amped, and we weren’t ready, and they put one behind our net in a minute and 30 seconds, and the game was pretty much done from there.”
In the first half, the Bombers did not register a shot on goal until after the 40th minute. The Red Dragons kept consistent pressure on the college, rarely allowing it to advance the ball and create scoring chances. Cortland finished the half with seven shots — three on target — while the college managed five shots — only one on target.
The Red Dragons held on to their momentum and continued to move the ball up the field to start the second half. The Bombers kept pushing, and their best opportunity came at the 64:17 mark. Sophomore forward Jack Carney connected with a throw-in from sophomore midfielder Cameron Wooten, sending a header just wide of the net. About a minute later, senior midfielder Landon Hellwig delivered a perfect cross into the center of the box, but Carney’s second header attempt sailed off target.
The Bombers’ attack could not break through, and senior forward Matt Schultz sealed the game for the Red Dragons. Schultz maneuvered past two Bombers’ defenders and the goalkeeper to extend Cortland’s lead to 2-0 with under 15 minutes remaining.
The college’s hopes were still alive in the closing minutes when Krasnove delivered a thrilling goal off assists from senior midfielder Ikey Borden and junior defender Riley Donelan. With just three minutes left on the clock, Donelan threw the ball in from the sidelines, and Borden, leaping into the air, redirected the ball off his head, sending it to Krasnove’s foot. The crowd at Carp Wood Field erupted as Krasnove fired the ball into the net. However, the moment was not enough to overcome the Red Dragons, who won 2-1.
The Bombers travel to Hobart College — the defending Liberty League champions — at 4 p.m. Sept. 24 as they play the Statesmen in Geneva, New York. This will be the South Hill squad’s first Liberty League matchup all season. Krasnove said the loss to the Red Dragons will only push the team to prepare harder.
“We’re gonna prepare mentally and physically for them,” Krasnove said. “It’s gonna be a battle, and we’re looking to put three or four past them and make a statement for the Liberty League.”
