BOX SCORE

The St. John Fisher College field hockey team held an early 1-0 lead, but it wouldn't hold as the Ithaca College Bombers rallied, scoring five goals en route to a 5-2 win Saturday night in an important Empire 8 contest.

As Washington and Jefferson lost its conference game earlier in the day, Fisher, in only its third season as an NCAA Division III program has now clinched a berth in the upcoming Empire 8 Championships.

Alexis Zakala got the ball rolling for Fisher, scoring on a pass from Elizabeth Cusack in the game's opening minutes.

Two goals by the Bombers in as many minutes would erase Fisher's lead with Ithaca taking a 2-1 lead.

The one goal advantage wouldn't last long, however as Fisher answered in the 22^nd minute.  Alexis Kryger beat her defender in the open field and buried the shot to knot the game at two goals apiece heading into the halftime break.

Fisher looked to take control, but Ithaca scored three unanswered goals in the second half, building a 5-2 lead which carried the home team through the final whistle.

With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 8-8 overall and 4-3 in the conference standings.  Currently, the Cardinals hold a slight lead over Ithaca in the conference standings.  If Ithaca wins in its next conference game against Hartwick, however, Ithaca would clinch the third seed, while Fisher would earn the final berth.

Fisher will return to Growney Stadium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday as it battles SUNY Geneseo.