PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team was defeated by SUNY Cortland Wednesday afternoon, 12-8, inside Growney Stadium. With the loss, Fisher, which is ranked 24th in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll, falls to 2-6 overall, while Cortland improves to 6-4 overall.

After a first quarter that saw the Cardinals lead 3-2, Fisher kept the momentum after a woman-up free position goal from Courtney O'Dea.

Just three minutes later, Cortland pushed through the Fisher defense to earn a free position goal and cut the Cardinal lead to 4-3.

From there, Cortland would put another one on the board to tie the match up before Cara Landry would find her way through the defense and into back of the net.

The half ended as both teams earned goals to head into the break with Fisher leading 6-5.

The Red Dragons opened the second half with two goals to take its first lead of the game, 7-6. It would not hold, as O'Dea produced her second goal of the game following a free position attempt.

After forcing a Cortland turnover, head coach Linda Michele called timeout to set her offense up. The Cardinals strategy was successful, as O'Dea worked her way into the defense, freeing Kathleen Salanger to pick up her second goal.

With Fisher leading 8-7 with six minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Cortland quickly tied the game back up 30 seconds later. Both defenses would pull through as the quarter ended in a tie at 8-all.

The fourth quarter was all Cortland, as they outscored the Cardinals 4-0 to take a 12-8 lead. With less than two minutes to go, the Cardinals produced an attack, but it would come up short as Cortland saved a free position attempt and eventually ran out the clock.

O'Dea led the offense with two goals and two assists. She was followed by Salanger and Landry with two goals apiece. Lilly Goodsell (2-5) finished the match allowing 12 goals with 10 saves.

As a team, the Cardinals produced 18 shots, forced 12 turnovers, and won 16 draw controls.

The Cardinals will be back in action at 1 p.m. on Saturday in an Empire 8 matchup against Nazareth College at home inside Growney Stadium.