PITTSFORD, N.Y. – With tonight's 4-0 blanking of Houghton College at Growney Stadium, the St. John Fisher College field hockey team claimed its second consecutive Empire 8 Regular Season Championship. The Cardinals remained unbeaten in their abbreviated 2021 campaign with the victory as they improved to 3-0 on the year, while the Highlanders fell to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in conference competition.
 
Before play began, the team took a moment to recognize its three seniors that will be graduating at the conclusion of the academic year: defenders Katelyn Slomba and Olivia Rogers, and goalkeeper Lexi Kaplan.
 
Fisher got off to a relatively sluggish start in the first quarter – although the Cardinals dominated possession, they registered just two shot attempts on five corner opportunities.
 
As the game entered its second period, the Cardinals ignited its offensive production behind an Allison Bartlett corner attempt pass to Bre Socker goal that was rocketed into net from the top of the shooting circle.
 
Just 53 seconds later, the Fisher midfield made a steal and Gianna Palma sent a ball through Houghton's back line to find the stick of Socker who beat the opponent's keeper and tipped the ball into goal, extending the Cardinals lead to 2-0.
 
Despite four more tries in the following quarter, Fisher didn't get on the board again until the last period. Just before the 47th minute of play, the Cardinals drew up a play on a corner attempt in which the ball was skipped to the far side of the field, then reversed back to the near side. Alyssa Andres sent a pass into Bartlett who deflected the ball into the cage, creating a three-goal lead.
 
Fisher wasn't done there, as just a minute and a half before the final horn, Socker lifted a ball towards the Houghton keeper, which was chipped in by Ashley Wightman, to finish off the scoring at 4-0.
 
Socker led the charge for the Cardinals as she registered five points on two goals and the single assist on the night. Her 10 shots, five of which were on goal, headlined the Fisher game plan. Bartlett recorded two points on one goal and one assist, but also added three shots in the match. Wightman rounded out the Fisher shooting as she had two shots, one of which found the net.
 
Cardinals' keeper, Sophia Trozzi faced four shots over the course of the 60-minute game – the two Highlander shots which were on target, she stopped.
 
Now having clinched the Empire 8 Regular Season Title, Tori Bothner's team will look to defend their perfect record when they travel to Nazareth on Sunday, April 18 at noon for their last in-conference game of the season before the Empire 8 tournament begins next weekend.