The St. John Fisher women's soccer team was defeated by visiting Ithaca College today, 2-1 at Growney Stadium. With the loss, Fisher falls to 2-3 (0-1), while Ithaca improves to 4-0-1 (1-0).
Ithaca scored the only goal of the first half, after Anna Gray powered a shot from 20 yards out in the 19th minute. Fisher goaltender Noel Peck made a dive for the save, but was unable to stop the ball off the bounce.
The score would hold for the first half, but in the second, Fisher mounted pressure on the visiting Bombers. That pressure eventually resulted in a goal, as Laura Burgstrom found the back of the net in the 74th minute. Fisher was granted a free kick just outside of the box, and Burgstrom struck a laser to the top left corner of the net.
However, the score would only remain tied for four minutes. Ithaca regained the lead when Rachael Palladino tapped a ball in past Fisher's Jessica Plukas. Plukas replaced Peck in net to start the second half. Caroline Jestremski setup the Ithaca goal with a long cross that found the hip of Palladino. The small touch was just enough to put the ball into the back of the net.
Peck recorded four saves in the first half for Fisher, while Plukas recorded one in the loss. Becca Salant made 11 stops in the winning effort.
The Cardinals will return to action at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday when they travel to Alfred University.
