CLEARWATER, FL – The St. John Fisher University women's lacrosse team came up just short in Florida on Tuesday, 10-9, to 16th-ranked Christopher Newport. 

The Cardinals, down 10-6 with just over seven minutes left in the game, stormed back with three unanswered goals, but ran out of time- the game clock hit zero just a second after Fisher scored its ninth goal. 

Fisher started the game well, jumping ahead less than a minute into the game thanks to a score by senior attacker Cara Landry. Junior attacker Mary Fiorentino moved the score to 2-0 a few minutes later, snagging an unassisted goal with 6:10 left in the opening quarter. Although Christopher Newport responded to make it 2-1, junior Sydney Carpenter again made it a two-goal game, 3-1, scoring with just over a minute left.

Christopher Newport staged a comeback, however, scoring four unanswered goals the rest of the first half to catapult into a 5-3 lead. Although the Cardinals twice made it a one-score game in third thanks to goals by juniors Hanna Kumpf and Farrah Zalla, the Captains were able to extend their lead to 10-6 in the fourth quarter. Junior Emma Biel, Landry, and Fiorentino scored the last three goals of the game, but time ran out before they had a chance to tie. 

Fiorentino led the way for Fisher with two goals and two assists on the day, while Zalla had a goal and three assists to join Fiorentino had four points. Landry notched two goals while Kumpf put up a goal and two assists. Sophomore Kaley Griffin registered her third goal of the season.

Fisher returns to action in the second game of their Florida trip when they play Roanoke College on Thursday at 10 A.M.