PITTSFORD, N.Y. – For the second consecutive year, the top-seeded St. John Fisher College field hockey team claimed the Empire 8 Championship after blanking Utica College, 3-0, on Saturday night inside Growney Stadium.  With the win, Fisher, which has now earned the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship, improved to 12-7 on the year while the third-seeded Pioneers had their season ended at 10-9.

Bre Socker was named the Championship's Most Valuable Player after a record-setting season that saw the Liverpool native break the conference's all-time career marks for points and goals.  The forward finished the win with a game-high 11 shots including six on goal while Audrey Grieb had four shots overall in the win.  Abby Richardson and Molly Fisher tallied two shots apiece while Gianna Palma was credited with having taken three over 60 minutes of play.  Alyssa Andres rounded out the offense with one shot on the day.

The Cardinals, who will be making their second NCAA appearance in program history, will find out when and where they will play in the opening round of action on Sunday when the NCAA releases its official championship release on NCAA.com.

Fisher didn't waste any time putting the Pioneers in a hole as Palma fed Socker in front of the goal for her 16th tally of the season and a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals doubled their advantage in the 29th minute when Palma lifted a high pass from the top of the arc that Grieb batted into the back of the cage to make it a 2-0 affair heading into the break.

Coming out of intermission, both teams continued to battle down the stretch.  The game, however, remained firmly in Fisher's hands as the fourth quarter got underway with the Cardinals adding to their lead in the 58th minute when Grieb weaved her way through Utica's defense before unloading a shot past the Pioneers' keeper to seal the win for Fisher.

In goal, Sophia Trozzi moved to 12-7 on the year after collecting her second straight shutout.  The Warmister, Pa. native made three key saves over 60 minutes to help send the Cardinals to their first appearance in the national tournament since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2016.