BOXSCORE | CUMULATIVE STATS
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host Nazareth scored twice in the second half Sunday to rally for a 2-1 men's soccer victory over Ithaca in a key Empire 8 Conference game at Golden Flyer Stadium.

Nazareth won for the third straight time and for the second time this weekend to improve to 7-6-2 overall, including 3-3 in the Empire 8. Ithaca had a four-game unbeaten streak snapped as the Bombers fell to 8-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the Empire 8. Nazareth's win was only its third ever over the Bombers in 24 games.

Nazareth is in sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings and can clinch a spot in next month's E8 Tournament with a victory at RIT Saturday at 12 p.m. Before that Nazareth plays at Hobart Wednesday in a non-conference game at 4:30 p.m.

Ithaca had a 20-8 advantage in shots and had several quality scoring chances that were thwarted by the Nazareth defense, anchored by freshman sweeper Mark Daly (Glasgow, Scotland), junior Troy Gotham (Mynderse Academy/Seneca Falls, NY), senio Chad Kies (Apalachin, NY) and junior Jacques Tardie (Ellsworth, Maine). The Bombers, however, grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first half when junior Kurt Odenbach (McQuaid Jesuit/Webster, NY) broke through the defense to score his sixth goal of the season.

In the second half, Nazareth took advantage of misplay by Ithaca goalkeeper Andy Wilhelm, whose errant goal kick landed on the chest of Nazareth's Philip Holmberg (Malmo/Malmo, Sweden), who dribbled in alone and launched a shot into the goal to tie the score at 1-1.

Holmberg helped set up the game-winning goal as well. He dribbled into the Ithaca penalty area where he passed the ball to Greg Blanchard (Mynderse Academy/Seneca Falls, NY), who redirected it to Paul Pacitto (Wayne Central/Ontario, NY), who headed the ball into the goal for the game-winning score in the 76th minute.

Of Ithaca's 20 shots, only four were on goal. Nazareth's Trey Barresi (Lansing HS/Lansing, NY) saved three of them to gain the victory.