PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The St. John Fisher University women's lacrosse team competed at home in the Empire 8 Championship finals against Nazareth College on Saturday. After a close first half, the Cardinals pulled away and won by a 10-5 final score. With this win, Fisher receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals now hold a 15-3 overall record.

The Golden Flyers recorded the first goal of the match seven minutes in. At the 7:12 minute mark, Kaley Griffin caused a Nazareth turnover and Sydney Carpenter picked up the loose ball, running the length of the field for a Cardinals possession. Carpenter with a behind the back shot gets Fisher on the board, score stand at one a piece. With two minutes to go until the second quarter, Carpenter found Farrah Zalla cutting through the eight to bring Fisher up 2-1. On the next play, Carpenter to Zalla once again added a score and the Cardinals went into the second quarter leading 3-1.

One minute in, Courtney O'Dea gets her first of the day, assisted by Carpenter to give Fisher a three goal lead. The Golden Flyers net the next two goals to cut the Fisher lead to just one. 1:57 left until half, Mary Fiorentino finds Carpenter for her second of the day. Fisher heads into halftime leading 5-3.

To start out the third quarter, the Golden Flyers get a tally, making the score 5-4. Both teams held strong on the defensive end throughout the quarter, with neither able to convert. With one minute left in the third, Mykenzie Black capitalized on a free position attempt to bring the Fisher lead to 6-4 heading into the fourth quarter.

It was a scoreless five minutes for both teams to start the final frame. Zalla picking up her teammates offensive rebound, puts it in the back of the net and makes it 7-4 with 10 minutes to go. Paige Miller with a caused turnover on the defensive end gets it down for a Fisher possession. Tara Osterdale is fouled in the middle of the eight and is given a free position attempt. She puts it in the top right corner to double up on Naz. With 2:55 to go in regulation, Fiorentino finds Carpenter, who gets her sixth point of the day, Fisher leads 9-4. Nazareth answers right back to bring the score to 9-5. With 45 seconds to go, O'Dea feeds Black cutting throughout the eight to solidify a 10-5 Cardinal's victory.

Carpenter was named the Empire 8 Tournament's Most Valuable Player. Lauren Swartz 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 Monday.

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