Box Score

The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the visiting William Smith Herons and held on late for a 9-7 victory at Growney Stadium for each team's season-opening game.

With Fisher leading 8-7 at the 2:38 mark it appeared as if the Herons had tied the score, however the goal was disallowed due to an illegal stick.  Taylor Hughes responded less than :15 seconds later to put the game out of reach at 9-7.

Fisher improves to 1-0 on the season while the Herons fall to 0-1.

Sophomore Chrissy Cook notched the Cardinals first two goals of the game, the first coming 10 minutes into the contest off a free position.  She followed it up less than a minute later with an unassisted goal.

The Cardinals increased their lead to 3-0 when Jordan Johnson connected with Hughes for the tally.  

It was not until the 8:42 mark of the first half before the Herons found the back of the net to cut the Cardinals lead to 3-1.

Fisher recorded its second free position goal of the game late in the half as Emily Bryerton notched her first of the year.  The Cardinals led 4-2 at intermission.

The Herons cut Fisher's lead to a one goal margin to start out the second half but Fisher scored the next three goals over a three minute span to open up its largest lead of the game at 7-3.  Erin Ward started the run followed by Bryerton and Hughes scoring their second goals of the contest. 

William Smith would prove to be resilient though, scoring the next two goals to make it 7-5 early in the second half.

Byerton scored the next goal, her third of the game, to give Fisher an 8-5 lead.  The Herons fought back to an 8-7 contest before Hughes sealed the win for Fisher.

Hughes and Bryerton each finished with three goals.  Ward added a goal and one helper for the Cardinals.

Fisher will take to the air for its next two contests in Puerto Rico facing Roanoke College on Tuesday and Misericordia University on Wednesday.