The St. John Fisher College field hockey program advances to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship on Wednesday, as the Cardinals came through with a 2-1 win in double-overtime against visiting Rhodes College. This victory marks the first time in program history Fisher has won an NCAA contest as well.
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With the win, Fisher improves to 19-2 overall and extends the nation's longest winning streak to 18 games.  The Cardinals will now face host Babson College (19-2) at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Rhodes, out of Memphis, Tenn., finishes its season with a 15-3 record.Â
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Alexandrea Malley scored the game winning goal for Fisher.  It was the senior's first goal of the year and just the second in 81 games over her four-year career.  With just over two minutes into the second overtime,
Lauren Fazio took a long shot from the top of the arc and Malley deflected it into the bottom right corner of the cage. The goal came 2:25 into the second overtime period and assured the Cardinals' advancement to the next round.
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After a scoreless first half, Fisher got on the board first off a set piece. Fazio took a penalty corner that eventually made its way to
Nickole Morgan on top of the arc. Morgan ripped a shot that was corralled by
Lexi Foley in front of the net. Foley then slid a pass to Fazio in who tucked the ball into the open net. The one goal lead would last until just over seven minutes in regulation as Rhodes converted a two-on-one to force an overtime period.
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The Fisher defense led by
Hannah Cooper and
Sarah Bisesi only allowed the Lynx five total shots, 19 less than the Cardinals' total.
Ashley Maynard played all 87:35 in net, making one save on the day.
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