PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College field hockey team posted its fourth straight win on Saturday as the Cardinals handed visiting Stevens Institute of Technology a 3-2 loss in an Empire 8 tilt inside Growney Stadium. With the win, Fisher improved to 12-4 overall and 5-1 in the conference standings while the Ducks slipped to 9-6 overall and 4-2 against conference competition.
Prior to the game, Fisher honored its senior class as the Cardinals recognized
Lauren Fazio,
Abbey Kowalski,
Meagan McDonald,
Ashley Maynard and
Lexi Foley for their contributions to the program over the last four years.
After both teams tested each other's back lines over the opening 20 minutes of play, Stevens would strike first as the Ducks corralled a loose ball in front of the Cardinals' cage to hold a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute.
The lead held until the 33rd minute when
Lindsay Scott dropped a pass to Fazio who uncorked a shot from the top of the arc that found its way into the back of the Ducks' net to level the game at 1-1 as the first half expired.
Coming out of the break, Fisher turned up the intensity as the Cardinals netted the go-ahead goal in the 37th minute when Fazio, the Empire 8's Offensive Player of the Week, cradled a loose ball before working around the Ducks' keeper to make it a 2-1 contest.
Trailing by a goal with time winding down, Stevens continued to battle and tied the game in the 48th minute, but was unable to keep Fisher at bay as the Cardinals scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 58th minute when
Gianna Palma sent a pass to the far post that found Socker who deflected it in to lift Fisher to a 3-2 win.
In all, Fisher 17 shots led by Fazio's eight offerings. Socker had four shots on the day while
Talia Scarfino had two to her credit.
In goal, Maynard earned her 12th win of the season as the senior allowed two goals over 70 minutes and came away with four saves in all. McDonald was also credited with a defensive save.
Fisher will seek its 13th win of the year at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when it makes the short trip down East Avenue to take on Nazareth College in an Empire 8 showdown.
