Women's Soccer | 11/3/2023 11:15:00 AM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University women's soccer team has never won an Empire 8 title, but that could change on Saturday, Nov. 4, when the No. 2 seed Cardinals head to rival Nazareth University for the Empire 8 Finals with the No. 1 seed Golden Flyers. 
 
The game is set to kickoff at 1:00 P.M. at Nazareth's Golden Flyer Stadium.

Here's what you need to know ahead of the big game:
 
How They Got Here
St. John Fisher finished second in the conference regular season with a 4-0-4 record against Empire 8 competition, receiving a first-round bye. the Cardinals beat No. 6 seed Alfred on Wednesday at Growney Stadium in the conference semifinals, 1-0, thanks to a late header goal by junior Kate Rachwal. The go-ahead game-winner came in the final minute of the game, off a corner kick by junior Emma Spelman. 
 
Nazareth won the Empire 8 regular season title with a 5-0-3 record against conference opponents. They then beat No. 5 seed Russell Sage on Wednesday, 3-0, in their conference semifinal. 
 
Imperial History
This is the second time that the Cardinals have reached the Empire 8 finals. In 2021, they faced Nazareth but lost, 3-0. Several members of that runner-up team remain with Fisher, including Spelman, Rachwal, Kayla Rhude, Tori Cruz, Jenn Kirker, Siobhan McMakin, Grace Wolsieffer, and Kyra Kenyon.
 
Against Nazareth
Until recently, the "Battle of the Beaks" women's soccer rivalry was extremely one-sided for Nazareth: the Cardinals are 1-17-4 against the Flyers since 2005. However, the two squads have been far more even the last two seasons, and have played two straight ties, including a 0-0 draw earlier this season at Nazareth. 
 
Player to Watch
Sophomore Avery Byrnes has been sensational in goal this season, going 7-2-5 with 69 saves. Her 10 saves against Nazareth earlier this season were a season-high. She is currently first in the conference for lowest goals-against-average (.733) and second in save percentage (.863). 
 
What Comes Next
A victory against Nazareth would mean a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. 
 
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