Box Score | RPI Athletics on Instagram

TROY, N.Y. - Junior Josh Della Puca scored from 13 yards out with 3:18 remaining in the second overtime to give the No. 15 Ithaca Bombers an 8-7 victory over No. 19 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in a Liberty League Men's Lacrosse Tournament Semifinals contest at East Campus Stadium. Ithaca improves to 15-2 and advances to the championship game on Saturday against either No. 1 RIT or No. 18 St. Lawrence University. The Engineers fall to 12-4.

The Bombers gained possession off the faceoff to start the final period, which led to a Connor Crosson shot from the right side that sailed high of the net. Ithaca retained the ball with Crosson eventually having it near the goal line extended. His diagonal pass out to Della Puca set up the game-winning goal, a hard, low shot that eluded goalie Parker Smith. The tally was the 22nd of the season for Della Puca, a midfielder, and the assist was Crosson's 24th.

The goal was just the third after halftime with each team scoring in the fourth quarter. Ithaca took a 7-6 lead with 12:57 remaining in the frame on a Kaelan Fitzpatrick goal, but freshman Jason Bram tied the game with 2:46 left.

RPI, which remains hopeful of earning an NCAA Tournament bid, scored three of the first four goals of the game and held a 5-3 lead after the first quarter. Senior Tom Feenstra scored just 1:01 into the contest before teammate Will Killeen notched his fifth of the season one minute later. Fitzpatrick pulled the visitors to within one, but Matthew Gilman scored for a 3-1 RPI lead.

Crosson made it 3-2 with his 18th of the year, but Rensselaer junior JT Kelly scored consecutive goals for a 5-2 advantage with 4:52 left in the first quarter. Ithaca closed the period with a goal from Brendan King before Della Puca scored early in the second to make it a 5-4 deficit.

Zack Lukas made it a two-goal game again, but Ithaca's Connor Brumfield and Greg Drillock tied the score, the latter coming with 1:42 left in the first half.

Sophomore Robby Atwood backstopped the win, making 12 saves, including four in the first quarter, two in the second and three in both the third and fourth quarters. Della Puca finished with two goals on nine shots (4 on goal) and two ground balls, while Steven Landsburg won 10 of 17 faceoffs with a game-high eight ground balls.

Senior Oliver Kaija, who also won 10 faceoffs, had a game-high nine ground balls, while Kelly had two goals on nine shots (6 on goal). Smith made six saves, including five in the second half.