Ithaca not only notched its 11th straight winning campaign, it journeyed to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the first time in program history. The Bombers posted a 10-1-5 record during the regular season and received the first seed in the Northeast region of the NCAA play-offs. Coach Andy Byrne's club advanced to the regional finals with a 4-2 penalty-kick decision over Rochester and then captured the squad's first-ever regional crown with a 4-1 triumph against host Fredonia. Ithaca's season came to a close with a 4-0 loss at Muhlenberg in the quarterfinals.
After 3 contests the South Hill booters were 1-1-1, but the team then embarked on a school-record 15-game unbeaten streak before losing to Muhlenberg.
Senior forward Todd Stephan led the club in scoring, with 15 goals and 5 assists for 35 points. His goal total was the highest single-season output by a Bomber since Sandor Szabo '67 tallied 29 in 1964. Stephan ended his Ithaca career ranked 3rd in all-time goals (43) and points (96). Senior back Matt Tartaglia knocked in 5 scores and had 4 helpers this fall.
Senior goalkeeper Eric Pepper turned in his finest season in a blue and gold uniform with an 0.84 goals-against average, an .882 save percentage, and seven shutouts. He exits the program ranked 1st in school history in career wins (38) and saves (407).
Pepper picked up first-team all-New York region honors, Stephan was a second-squad selection, and Tartaglia and senior back Jeff Sallade received a nod on the honorable-mention unit.
No. Name Seasons Games Goals 1. Sandor Szabo 1960, 1964-65 33 80 2. George Murphy 1956-58 31 44 3. Todd Stephan 1992-95 65 43 4. John Williams 1951-54 35 35 5. Mike Neelon 1985-87, 1989 73 33