Box Score

The St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team opened Empire 8 Conference play with a dominant 15-3 win over visiting Elmira College. The win improves the Cardinals overall record to 7-2 on the year, and starts out Conference play with a 1-0 record.  Elmira falls to 4-3 on the year and 0-1 in the Empire 8.

The Cardinals controlled the game from the get-go, holding Elmira scoreless in the first half and into the second stanza.  The Soaring Eagles eventually ended the shutout bid at the 21:17 mark of the second half.  Fisher last accomplished the feat nearly exactly two years ago, when it held the same Elmira team scoreless in the second half in a 21-6 win on April 1st, 2011.

Fisher broke out to a 10-0 lead in the first half, with Taylor Hughes scoring three of the Cardinals' first five goals and Erin Ward adding both of her scores.  Hughes would go on to lead Fisher with six points on four goals and two assists.  Ward finished with two goals and two helpers.

Hughes opened the second half scoring with Kristina Lombard tallying two minutes later to make it 12-0.  Elmira then netted back-to-back goals with Ashton Hogan and Moorea Spoljaric scoring unassisted  on Molly Naylon. 

Naylon replaced starting goaltender Caroline Trpcevski, who didn't have to make a save in her appearance, early in the second half.  All three of Fisher's keepers would see time, as Nicole Hart ended the game between the pipes.  Hart finished with the only two Cardinal saves.

10 Cardinals scored in the game, with Lombard tallying two goals and an assist.  Melissa Leonhard also had three points on the day with a goal and two assists, while Samantha Barton had one of each.  Emily Bryerton, Sierra Badger, Bridget Alberts, Tori Suto and Chrissy Cook all also scored for Fisher.

Hughes and Leonhard both grabbed four draw controls, while five Cardinals posted three ground balls on the day.

Despite the loss, Elmira keeper LeAnna Presler posted a solid outing for the visitors, finishing with 16 saves including 11 in the first half.

However, possession and efficiency were the difference in the match as Elmira turned the ball over 27 times with 11 of those caused by a Cardinal.  The Soaring Eagles were also just 10-of-26 on clears compared to Fisher 13-of-14.

Fisher outshout Elmira 38-7 in the game.

The Cardinals will continue their four-game home stand on Saturday when they host Empire 8 member Utica College at 1 p.m.