Ithaca, N.Y.- One goal in each half for the hosts was enough as the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team fell to Ithaca, 20, Saturday afternoon.
The loss is the first of the season for the Golden Knights who fall to 5-1-6 overall, 1-1-3 in the Liberty League.
The Bombers created a tough task for the Knights right from the start, generating four shots in the opening ten minutes of the game. Carter Kladstrup kept the defense intact in goal for Clarkson making two stops to his left and right in the first quarter of an hour before making another at his feet in the 17th minute. The unrelenting pressure from the Bombers would finally crack the Clarkson defense in the 19th minute. Off a corner from the left side, an inswinging ball from Drew Warren found the head of Jack Carney at the back post. The forward's redirected shot traveled over Kladstrup in net and over the line for the game's first goal.
Both sides created a few other chances over the remainder of the half with Ithaca continuing to look dangerous in front of goal. The Bombers next best chance of the half cae in the 35th minute off a free-kick from just outside the Clarkson penalty area. The driven shot caused Kladstrup to drift to his right, making a comfortable grab out of the air to keep the lead at one.
The second half carried much of the same theme as the first as Ithaca managed to keep Clarkson from building momentum, allowing just four shots from the Knights. Kladstrup was again called into action early in the 47th minute, making a nice reaction stop to a deflected shot in the middle of his goal. The hosts came within inches of doubling the lead in the 53rd minute of action as a free-kick from the right side found a Bomber attacker all alone at the penalty spot, but the header struck the inside of the right post, bouncing back into the hands of Kladstrup.
Clarkson managed a decent chance to tie the game off a corner routine as Morgan Burke rose above the crowd, heading a shot towards goal which was collected by Brayden Millbrandt in goal for the Bombers. Ithaca would tack on a late insurance goal, the second of the contest, in the 89th minute. A lazy giveaway by the Clarkson defense fell to Andrew Kusek who unleashed a long-range effort from 35 yards out. The shot was pushed away by Kladstrup but right into the path of Jared Krasnove, following the effort up, who tapped the ball into an open net.
The Knights created one last chance on goal later in the 89th minute off a cleared free kick. A long, looping ball into the box from the right wing arrived at the head of Remi Ufheil whose shot at the back post deflected off the left post and out of play.
Kladstrup was credited with 12 saves in net for Clarkson while Millbrandt was called upon for two.
The Bombers held an advantage in shots, 22-6, and shots on goal, 14-2. Clarkson led the way in corners, 7-4.
