On a rainy, windy and muddy day, the Ithaca College women’s soccer team managed to slip by the William Smith College Herons on Nov. 10, winning 3-2 in a penalty shootout to claim the Liberty League Championship.

Heading into the game, the teams were evenly matched with identical 12-2-4 records. William Smith was ranked No. 11, but the Bombers had defeated the Herons 1–0 Oct. 2. While William Smith won the Liberty League in 2023, the South Hill squad previously triumphed over the Herons in the 2022 Liberty League championship, winning in a penalty shootout.

Senior goalkeeper Grace Hickey was the Bombers’ anchor, honing in 12 saves during the game.

“She did a fantastic job,” head coach Mindy Quigg said. “She really owned her box, and that was her goal for the day that we gave her, and she did such a good job.”

Despite the weather, the Herons opened the game with a burst of energy, taking four shots — one on goal — in the first four minutes. Afterward, the Bombers settled in, and much of the game was played in midfield, with both teams struggling to advance the ball.

The Bombers got their best chance around the 40th minute when graduate student forward Rosie Bostian, this season’s Liberty League Championship MVP, crossed the ball to the middle of the box, causing the opposing goalkeeper graduate student Kirsten Nelson to miss a diving catch on the ball. The missed catch left the right side of the net open, but a William Smith defender cleared the ball before an Ithaca player could get to it.

By the time the halftime whistle sounded, the score was knotted at 0-0 and Hickey had five saves, while Nelson had two.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Hickey continuing to lead the South Hill squad with two saves within the first 12 minutes. The remainder of the game continued to be played around midfield and Hickey ended the half with six saves to send the match into double overtime. The Bombers ended the half with eight shots — two on goal.

Just like regular time, the overtime period was a defensive battle with both South Hill fans and Herons’ fans gathering around the fence, shivering, but eager to get closer to the action. In the first overtime, the Herons managed two shots, but none in the second overtime. Ithaca managed two shots in the second overtime period but none in the first, sending the game to penalty shootouts.

“I told the women: … ‘We got it,’” Quigg said. “We got a great keeper. We practiced it. We’re prepared.”

The penalty shootout delivered nail-biting energy, with the Bombers seeking to claim the Liberty League title back. The Bombers made three of their first four shots, while the Herons only made two, leaving the score at 3-2 when the Herons’ senior forward Lindsay Ringbloom stepped up for the shot attempt. Her shot was no match for Hickey, who made the diving save to send an eruption of noise and to give the Bombers an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament. After Hickey’s save, her fellow Bombers all raced to celebrate, bringing her to the ground in a dogpile.

“We were so happy to be home, and we really had good momentum coming into the game,” Quigg said. “We’re a pretty determined group of young women, so it was fantastic.”

The Bombers will play Penn State Behrend at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in Dallas, Pennsylvania.