ITHACA, NY – For the third game in a row in Liberty League play, the University of Rochester was locked in a tight battle late in the fourth quarter.
 
On Wednesday afternoon at Ithaca's Higgins Stadium, host and 18th-ranked Ithaca College emerged with the victory, edging the Yellowjackets 12-10 in a conference matchup.
 
With the win, Ithaca moves to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League. Rochester (3-5, 0-3 Liberty League) has lost its three conference matches by a combined four goals.
 
In Wednesday's matchup, Ithaca got off to a blistering start, scoring the first five goals of the game, spanning nearly the entire first quarter.
 
Playing a player down, UR's Alyssa Gorny got the Yellowjackets on the board late in the first, making the score 5-1 after the opening 15 minutes of play.
 
UR got within 6-4 following a solid stretch of play in the second quarter, with Anna Rogers tallying twice and Gorny adding her second of the day. Gorny also provided assists on both of Rogers' goals.
 
The Bombers held off the charging Yellowjackets with late scores before halftime, heading into the break with a four-goal lead, up 8-4.
 
A low scoring third quarter saw UR outscore the Bombers 2-1, with Gorny striking twice for Rochester, both being unassisted.
 
As play shifted to the fourth, Ithaca regained a five-goal margin scoring the opening two goals, but the Yellowjackets stormed back into, scoring four straight to cut the score to 11-10.
 
Jenna Ufberg found Rogers for her third of the game to make it 11-7, and less than a minute later, Gracie Giannettino scored to cut into the deficit further.
 
UR kept the momentum going with Gorny notching her fifth of the game, and first-year Ella Lassen scored with just under seven minutes remaining to move the score to 11-10 in favor of the Bombers.
 
Following the goal which got UR within one, Ithaca called timeout to settle down. The next draw control went to the Bombers, but UR keeper Isla Ablin came up with a big save to get Rochester possession back.
 
After a turnover, Ithaca regained possession but saw three straight shots sail off target to allow UR another possession and a chance to tie. The Yellowjackets clear attempt was successful this time with Gorny taking a shot looking for a sixth goal of the game. On the attempt, Ithaca keeper Jocelyn Cote made the save, keeping the Bombers in front.
 
At the other end, Ablin came up with another big save for the Yellowjackets, but back-to-back turnovers were committed by the Yellowjackets eating up some clock and gave the ball back to Ithaca with under two minutes left.
 
As time ticked under 40 seconds, Ithaca's Lexi Kellish scored a key insurance goal for the Bombers.
 
On the ensuing draw, Ithaca corralled the ball and was able to run out the clock, holding on for the victory.
 
Gorny led all players with eight points in the game, scoring five times while adding three assists. Rogers finished with a hat trick on just four shots.
 
UR picked up 21 ground balls, led by Campbell Sy who had four to go along with two draw controls. In the draw circle, Gorny and Sara Mendelson each finished with four to lead UR, while Maddie Bunting and Lassen added two apiece.
 
In goal, Ablin finished with 10 saves in the loss.
 
The Yellowjackets are back home at Fauver Stadium on Saturday afternoon to host Clarkson in another Liberty League matchup, with the contest starting at 4:30 pm.