The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team earned an 18-11 win over host Elmira College on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

With the win, Fisher, ranked No. 23 in the latest national coaches poll, improves to 11-5 overall and 7-1  in the Empire 8 Conference. Elmira finishes the year at 2-14, 1-7.

Fisher has earned the No. 2 seed in next week's Empire 8 Conference Championship and will play No. 3 Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday. Top-seeded Nazareth College will host the game and will also play No. 4 Ithaca College.  The two winners will play on Sunday at Nazareth with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship on the line.   Fisher has gone on the road and won the Empire 8 Conference Championship each of the last three years.

Fisher never trailed in today's game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes, but the Soaring Eagles were persistent, nipping at Fisher's heels throughout most of the game.

Fisher, who led 7-6 at the half, scored two goals in the opening moments of the second half to take a 9-6, but Elmira answered right back, scoring three straight and tying the game at 9s with 21:48 left in the game.

The Cardinals, however, went on a 5-1 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 15-10 lead with under 10 minutes to go and held on for the victory.

Sophomore Jordan Johnson led the Cardinals with a career-high six goals. She also added two assists, marking a career-high for points with eight.  Sierra Badger tallied four points on three goals and one assist, while Chrissy Cook and Erin Ward each totaled three points (two goals, one assist).

Cori Holbrook and Samantha Barton also scored twice, while Lindsey Shoales also scored in the win.

Abbie Reed and Badger each totaled a team-high four draw controls, while Melissa Lindine and Barton scooped up a team-high three ground balls.

Carly Sullivan, Shoales and Barton each caused two turnovers.

Goalie Molly Maguire and Nicole Hart combined to make four saves.