Field Hockey | 10/24/2023 3:03:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University field hockey team currently sits at the top of the Empire 8 standings and aims to stay there with two games remaining in the regular season.
 
The 8-7 Cardinals (5-0 in conference) will host rivals Nazareth University on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 4:00 P.M. before traveling to Houghton on Saturday, Oct. 25 for a 3:00 P.M. showdown that may well determine the top seed in the Empire 8 tournament. 
 
Fisher won both games this week, blanking Elmira, 8-0, on Wednesday before edging Hartwick, 2-1, on Saturday.
 
Playoff-ology: St. John Fisher has already clinched a spot in the Empire 8 tournament- the only question is what seed will they hold.
 
If the Cardinals win both of their remaining games, they will remain number one. If they lose to Nazareth but defeat Houghton, they will also be the top seed because they would have head-to-head tiebreakers with Houghton and Hartwick. 
 
Super-Sam: Senior midfielder Sam Choate scored three goals this past week: two against Elmira and one on her Senior Day against Hartwick. The goal on Saturday was crucial, as it was ultimately the game-winning goal in the close 2-1 victory over the Hawks. Choate's nine goals are tied for eighth among Empire 8 players. 
 
Got To Get Back In Time: The Cardinals have historically dominated the Field Hockey version of the "Battle of the Beaks" with Nazareth, going 12-3. Their most recent showdown came last season at Nazareth, with the Cardinals winning 4-1. Fisher hasn't lost to Nazareth since 2019 when they fell in a double-overtime 2-1 squeaker. 
 
Fisher is 10-3 all-time against Houghton, but the most recent of those losses was a heartbreaker for the Cardinals: a 3-0 defeat at home in the semifinals of last season's Empire 8 tournament. It was the first time the Highlanders had defeated the Cardinals since 2012, and coach Lauren Scorza's squad will look to avenge it on Saturday.
 
Player To Watch:  Junior Emma Cooper is currently second in the conference in assists, with 12- including two in the last week. That is the third-most all-time for a single season in Fisher history, and a good week could put her in second place (Bre Socker with 15 in 2018). 
 
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