ITHACA, N.Y. – The 14th-ranked Ithaca College women's lacrosse team scored the last five goals of the game in defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 12-7, on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Stadium. With the win, the Bombers improve to 9-4 overall (6-1 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 6-4-1 (4-3 Liberty League).

A tightly contested opening 30 minutes saw the hosts take a narrow 5-4 lead into the break. Ithaca scored the first two goals of the game, before the Engineers went on a 3-0 run, including man-up tallies from Maddy Aslansan and Michelle Bolger.

Jacqui Hallack and Elizabeth Rice netted their 23rd and 38th goals of the year, respectively, to put Ithaca back on top (4-3, before RPI's Erin Goodwin potted the equalizer with 4:15 remaining in the opening stanza. Bailey Herr and Goodwin then scored answering goals about a minute apart to keep the game knotted at 5-5.

Ithaca outshot RPI, 18-11, in the first, including 13-8 on goal.

Morgan Doyle gave the visitors their second lead of the contest 3:54 into the second half, but two straight from Katie Welsh and Hallack put the Bombers back on top, 7-6.

Doyle drew the Engineers even at 7-7 with 13:41 to go, but RPI did not score again, allowing Ithaca to pull away with five goals in just over five minutes of action, including two by Rice.

Goodwin, Doyle and Maddy Aslansan all had two goals and an assist piece to pace the Engineers. Aslansan also had a team-high four draw controls, with Laurel Dean collecting two ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Allie Panara led the Bombers with a goal and five assists for six points. Rice had four goals for four points, while Herr chipped in with two goals and a helper.

Between the pipes, Aleena Milinski matched a season-high with 16 saves for RPI, while Kimberly Presuto had four stops at the other end to earn the win.

The Engineers are back in action on Friday afternoon, when they host Vassar at Renwyck Field (4pm). Ithaca hosts Bard on Friday (4pm).