The St. John Fisher College field hockey team defeated Utica College 3-0 on Saturday in a regular season rematch of the 2014 Empire 8 Conference finals.
With the win Fisher advances to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in the Empire 8 Conference.
With just five minutes gone in the first half Fisher got a scoring opportunity on a penalty stroke taken by Nickole Morgan, but missed just wide.
Just seconds later Lauren Fazio stole the ball from a Utica Defender inside the circle and pushed the ball just past the goalie for the first score of the game.
Fazio now has six goals on the season, just two behind current leader Emily Markarian who has eight goals and leads the Empire 8.
The Cardinals maintained possession for the majority of the first half, holding Utica without a shot until the 23rd minute of the half.
Utica picked up pressure in the final minutes of the first but Fisher held leading the Cardinals inot the second half up 1-0.
Elizabeth Cusack scored twice in the second half the first coming on a long cross from Gabby LaForce in the 50th minute, and the second on an assist from Emily Markarian in the 64th minute.
Goalkeeper Danielle Famolaro is credited with the shutout and made one save for the Cardinals.
Fisher returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Oneonta to take on Hartwick College at 11 a.m.
