PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher men's lacrosse team seized control of the race for the Empire 8 Conference regular-season title with a 14-11 victory over crosstown rival Nazareth University on Saturday afternoon at Growney Stadium. 

The win marked the Cardinals' seventh in a row and improved their record to 11-4 overall and 7-0 in the conference. Nazareth fell to 10-5 and 6-1, respectively, with its first conference loss of the season. 

The Cardinals have won 42 consecutive games (regular season and postseason) against Empire 8 teams and 13 in a row against Nazareth. 

How It Happened

• Nazareth jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening eight minutes, but Fisher punched back with five unanswered goals, including three in the final three minutes of the opening quarter and two in the second quarter. 

• Fisher's final goal in the first quarter had a massive role in the game's momentum swing. With the clock winding down, junior goalkeeper Tyler Manning launched a full-field heave to senior Connor Mesh, who found fifth-year senior Timmy Salit, who scored at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 4-3. 

• Senior Brady Mason buried a goal on a feed from senior Braeden McNeill early in the second quarter to tie the game at four. Fifth-year senior Jordan Leuze gave the Cardinals their first lead of the contest about six minutes later.

• After Nazareth scored two unanswered goals to regain the lead, senior Ethan Kesselring scored late in the second quarter to send the teams into halftime knotted up at six.

• Leuze scored his second goal of the game about a minute into the third quarter to break the tie, and the Cardinals stayed in front the rest of the way. Mason and sophomore Robbie Salit also scored as part of a 3-0 Fisher run to start the third. 

• Mason scored twice more in the second half to complete a four-goal performance. He also tallied two assists in the final 30 minutes of action. 

• Kesselring scored his second goal of the game 13 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Fisher an 11-8 lead. Sophomores Sean Donaldson and Robbie Salit added two more for insurance later in the quarter.

Game Notes

• Mason (four goals, three assists) tied his season high in points (7). He's amassed five or more points in four games this season. 

• Mason (172 career points) passed Matt Hargather for ninth in Fisher history in career points. 

• Timmy Salit recorded his 100th career assist. He's one of four players in Fisher history to reach that mark. 

• The Cardinals had three other players finish with multiple goals, including Kesselring (3), Leuze (2) and Robbie Salit (2). Donaldson, Timmy Salit and senior Colin Blakeslee scored once apiece. 

• Robbie Salit and McNeill each had a pair of assists. 

• Manning made 13 saves and contributed to a pivotal goal to end the first quarter.

• Jack Cornell anchored the defense with three caused turnovers and six ground balls. 

• Fisher outshot Nazareth 53-39, won the ground ball battle 37-28 and converted 23-of-26 clears.
   

Up Next

The Cardinals face Keuka College at 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Keuka Park, New York.