Ithaca College

San Antonio – The women’s soccer team (15-4-3) ended its season in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship Tournament Friday, losing 2-0 to eighth-ranked Wheaton (Ill.). The Bombers wrapped up their sixth trip to the “final four”.

Junior goalkeeper Becca Salant was brilliant in goal, stopping 11 shots – two short of her career-high – including several diving stops as Wheaton, who has scored 77 goals this season, was held scoreless for the first 53 minutes.

The Thunder outshot Ithaca 28-3. "We had some opportunities that we never converted into shooting chances or shots on goal," explained Ithaca coach Mindy Quigg.

The Bombers nearly got on the board in the 86th minute after a corner kick by junior Julie Winn; junior Rachael Palladino, the team’s leading scorer with 15 goals and 37 points this year, had two touches on Winn’s long serve into the box.

Palladino, who had two of Ithaca’s three shots, had another effort saved 18 minutes into the second period.

The Bombers were making their 22nd appearance in the NCAA playoffs; no other team has made more.