ITHACA, N.Y. - Ithaca College scored on its first two shots and the host Bombers defeated Cortland, 2-0, in the NCAA Div. III women's soccer tournament quarterfinals Sunday afternoon at Carp Wood Field. Ithaca (15-3-3) will face Wheaton (Ill.) in the NCAA "final four" on Friday, Dec. 2, in San Antonio, Texas. Cortland finishes the season 14-6-3 and tied for fifth place in the national tournament - the Red Dragons' best finish since winning the 1992 NCAA Div. III title.

Ithaca goalie Becca Salant made five saves for the shutout. Cortland graduate student Pam Monnier (East Northport/Northport) finished with three saves. Cortland out shot Ithaca, 11-9.

Rachael Palladino put Ithaca on the board just 3:15 into the game when she scored off an Amanda Callanan assist. On an attempted Cortland clear, Callanan headed the ball over a Red Dragon defender and into the box. Monnier charged off her line, but Palladino managed to chip a shot over the Cortland goalie and into the net. The goal was the first that Cortland allowed in four NCAA tournament games.

The Bombers extended the lead to 2-0 in the 23rd minute on a 16-yard shot by Ellyn Grant-Keane. Jessie Warren fed a pass to Grant-Keane in the middle of the box. Grant-Keane turned to her right setting up her shot that found the upper right corner. Shortly after the goal, Cortland pulled one of its central defenders in favor of a fourth midfielder in an effort to apply more offensive pressure. The strategy helped as the Red Dragons began to control play in the latter stages of the first half. In the 37th minute, Salant made a diving grab of sophomore Kelly Knight's (Rochester/Greece Olympia) cross from the left side to avoid danger. Three minutes later, Cortland freshman Emma Whittle (East Moriches/Center Mriches) had perhaps the Red Dragons' best chance of the game. After an initial shot was blocked by an Ithaca defender on a corner kick, Whittle struck a one-time shot through traffic, but Salant made a diving save at the right post to preserve the 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the Bombers looked to protect their lead by keeping all but one player back and crowding the box. Ithaca had the first chance in the second half when Grant-Keane hit an 18-yard shot over the crossbar on a failed clear by Cortland. Cortland's last true opportunity was in the 71st minute on a 30-yard shot by junior Stacey Wood (New Hyde Park) that carried over the goal. The Red Dragons continued to press Ithaca, but the Bombers were able to fend off each attempt and earn the trip to San Antonio.

Ithaca 2, Cortland 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: no scoring
Ithaca: Rachael Palladino 1-0, Ellyn Grant-Keane 1-0, Amanda Callanan 0-1, Jessie Warren 0-1

Halftime: Ithaca 2, Cortland 0
Shots: Cortland 11, Ithaca 9
Corner Kicks: Cortland 2, Ithaca 0
Fouls: Cortland 11, Ithaca 8
Saves: Pam Monnier (Cortland) 3 (2 GA in 90:00); Becca Salant (Ithaca) 5 (0 GA in 90:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 14-6-3, Ithaca (Bombers) 15-3-3