The No. 16 Ithaca College women’s lacrosse team survived a late comeback on its home turf, pulling out a 12-10 win over the University of Rochester Yellowjackets on March 26.

The Bombers have had very little trouble with the Yellowjackets historically, having won the last seven matchups by at least eight goals. However, first-year goalkeeper Isla Ablin has anchored this season’s Rochester team. Her Liberty League tournament-leading 12.25 saves per game have helped keep them in almost every game they have played this season.

It started out simple enough for the Bombers. Senior midfielder Elizabeth Green ran circles around the Rochester defense before cutting in for the first goal of the game just two and a half minutes in, and a Bomber draw control led to a goal for sophomore attacker Kelly Augeri just 20 seconds later. The game was then blown open as the Ithaca lead jumped to five within the quarter off the back of junior midfielder Lily Cody. Cody scored two goals and assisted one in the first frame and she went on to notch three of each to lead the team in both categories for the game.

The fifth and final goal came from junior midfielder Katelyn Ikle, who received the ball from the restraining line. She sprinted downhill to the right side of the 8-meter, got a screen from a teammate and fired a hard and low shot that went across the keeper for her first-ever goal as a Bomber. Higgins Stadium roared as her teammates embraced her.

After bringing a 5-1 lead into the second quarter the Bombers were put into a defensive struggle as neither side was able to mark the scoresheet for nearly 10 minutes. Rochester went on a 3-1 run to make it a game again, but before a collapse could occur, a yellow card from a hit to the head resulted in a powerplay goal for first-year attacker/midfielder Kathryn Scallon with 58 seconds on the clock. A buzzer-beating goal from junior attacker Leigh Naturale ensured the Bombers took their four-goal lead into halftime as the score stood 8-4.

First-year keeper Mikaela Dattilo had a solid enough performance in the first to the tune of a 0.429 save percentage, but the second half belonged to junior goalie Jocelyn Cote. Head coach Karrie Moore said she wanted to give both of them a chance to shine.

“I had no idea of what would happen before the game,” Cote said. “I played in the second half of our last game, so I wasn’t completely shocked, but I wasn’t told anything going into it. I’ve just been trying to keep an open mindset and be ready for anything.”

After a free-position goal for Naturale, the two sides could not find the net despite peppering the goals with shots. For Ithaca, Cote held steady in goal, deflecting some efforts wide and outright catching others. Rochester would eventually break through, as Cote’s four saves in the third gave way to two goals, the second coming right as time expired.

The fourth opened with a duo of Bomber scores: while the second was a standard drive through the defense from the 12-meter line for Cody, the first was a goal-of-the-season contender. After receiving an outlet pass from Cote, junior defender Phoebe Hosford ran up the left sideline as Rochester players failed to keep her from the middle of the attacking third. The beautiful solo run was capped off by a juke of one final defender, and a flick of the wrist sent the ball into the bottom left corner for the first goal of her career.

Then, a game that seemed to be over was flipped on its head: with just 9:56 left in the match, the Yellowjackets scored four straight in three minutes. The few Rochester fans in attendance made themselves heard. Five minutes left: a Bombers powerplay goes empty. Four minutes: Goumier takes a shot that’s blocked low by Cote. Three minutes. Two minutes. Sloppy play gives the Bombers possession with 1:55 left in the game and a full shot clock, which they milk nearly every second of before Cody finds Augeri, who finds graduate student midfielder Lexi Kellish for the game-sealing 12th goal.

“We gotta play steadier throughout the whole game,” Moore said. “We’ve got to play tougher through the middle of the game, and we have to communicate better. I feel like we got quiet on the field there.”

Cote had a career-high six saves in the game, a performance that her Massachusetts-based parents were in town to see from the stands.

“I was so happy they got to see me play,” Cote said. “I don’t get to see them that much. It’s been nice to have them share these experiences with me, and both my parents were such a big part of my journey, so having them here is super special.”

The Bombers improve to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League Championship Tournament for the season, and they will hit the road to face off with the 5-2 Union College Garnet Chargers at noon March 29 in Schenectady, NY.