PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The St. John Fisher University men's lacrosse team competed at home in the Empire 8 Championship Final against Nazareth College on Saturday. The Cardinals dominated throughout all 60 minutes of play and won by a final score of 19-7. With this win, the Cardinals receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Fisher now holds a 10-9 overall record.

As the first quarter began, Nazareth got a quick start and recorded the first goal of the match up. Answering right back in the next possession is Lane Edinger, making the teams tied up at one a piece. Ben Hammond making the save gets it down the field to the offensive end. Jacob Gallina finds Matthew Kemmis who gives Fisher their first lead of the day. Next to get on the board is Samuel Miller unassisted, to bring the Cardinals lead to two. With 4:03 left in the first, the Cardinals go man-up. Tyler Edinger finds Ethan Kesselring who capitalizes and makes it 4-1. Getting off the final shot of the quarter is Gallina, finding the back of the net to bring Fisher up 5-2 heading into the second quarter.

To start the second, Timmy Salit gets the ball to Kemmis who gets his second of the day and and makes the Cardinal lead, 6-2. Nazareth tallies two quick goals to bring the score back to within two. A Cardinals defensive stop leads to an offensive possession, L. Edinger with his second, assisted by Salit. 7:19 to go until half, Fisher goes man-up. Timmy Salit stepping down gets his first of the day bringing Fisher back up by three. With 10 seconds left, Gallina takes it hard and brings Fisher into halftime leading 9-5.

As the second half began, Gallina finds the back of the net on the first possession of the quarter. Gallina records the next two goals in two minutes, to bring Fisher up 12-5. With 7:21 to go in the third, Salit with his fourth assist of the day, finds L. Edinger for his third goal, 13-5 Cardinals lead. One minutes later, Miller gets it to Mason who finds the back of the net and gets his first of the day. 3:50 left in the third, in transition, Connor Mesh finds defenseman Mason Gasbarre streaking throw the middle, Gasbarre fires one in the back of the net, for the first goal of his career. Fisher heads into the fourth leading 15-6.

The Cardinals recorded the first goal of the fourth, Kesselring to Kemmis, pushing the lead to 10. With 9:45 remaining in regulation, the Cardinals score the final three goals of the contest, Mason with two and Miller with one. At the end of 60 minutes, the Cardinals came out on top with a 19-7 victory. Fisher wins their fourth straight Empire 8 Championship title. 

Gallina was named the Empire 8 Tournament's Most Valuable Player. Jake Slowinski is this years recipient of the Torchbearer Award. This honor is given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating in the finals in each Empire 8 sport.

Up next for the Cardinals, the team will compete in the NCAA tournament next weekend. The selection show is set for Sunday.

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