ONEONTA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team clinched a first-round bye in the upcoming Empire 8 Championship and extended its winning streak to five games on Saturday as the Cardinals, who are ranked 11th in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll, surged to an 18-4 win over Hartwick College in an Empire 8 tilt inside Wright Stadium.  With the win, Fisher improved to 10-1 on the year and 5-0 in the conference standings while the Hawks fell to 1-3 overall and against Empire 8 opposition.
 
Alyssa Sproule led all players with five goals in the win while Brittany Halpin finished with two goals and three assists to go along with two ground balls.  Sydney DeGirolamo added two goals and two helpers along with seven draw controls while Alyssa Sabotka and Mackenzie Alexander each netted a hat trick for head coach Linda Michele's squad.
 
It didn't take the Cardinals long to assert themselves on the offensive end of the field with Sproule scoring three goals over the game's first three minutes.  As the opening half continued, Fisher didn't let up with the visitors holding a 10-0 advantage just 13 minutes in.
 
Hartwick got on the board midway through the period, but goals from Sabotka and Halpin staked the Cardinals to a 12-1 edge at the break.
 
Coming out of halftime, Fisher kept its foot on the gas and found the back of the net six more times including tallies from Courtney O'Dea and Alexandra Kopcza to hold an 18-1 cushion.
 
With the game well in hand, Fisher saw its lead dwindle as the Hawks scored the final three goals of the game before the final horn sounded.
 
In goal, Claudia Mocciaro moved to 10-1 as the senior allowed just one goal and made one save over 30 minutes of play while Lilly Goodsell surrendered three goals and made two stops in the second half.
 
Fisher will wrap up the home portion of its regular schedule at 7 p.m. on Tuesday when it hosts Houghton College in an Empire 8 matchup at Growney Stadium.