Ithaca Remains Perfect in Empire 8 Play, Upends Cardinals, 8-3
ITHACA, N.Y. – The 21st-ranked Ithaca College women’s lacrosse team (6-3, 3-0 Empire 8) upended visiting St. John Fisher (7-4, 2-1 Empire 8), 8-3, on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Stadium.
Despite a slow start that allowed the Cardinals an early 2-0 lead, Ithaca posted eight of the game’s final nine goals and held St. John Fisher to its lowest goal count in over six seasons.
Senior Nicole Borisenok moved up to fourth all-time at Ithaca with 191 career points as she dished out a career-high four assists on the day. Juniors Kaitlyn Hoffay and Nikki Dahl joined sophomore Becky Guzzo in netting two goals each, while juniors Tracy Rivas and Kim Armbruster each tallied once.
Rivas also added two assists.
Senior Siobhan Sullivan scooped up a career-best six ground balls and won two draws. She and junior Michelle Avery each forced two turnovers.
Borisenok added a career-best five ground balls as Ithaca collected 24 to the Cardinals’ 16.
The Bombers held a 21-14 advantage in shots, while St. John Fisher won seven draw controls to the Ithaca’s six.
Trailing 2-0 after eight minutes of play, Avery found Dahl for the Bombers’ first of four. Ten scoreless minutes ticked off the clock before Guzzo scored at 11:41 and Dahl recorded the game-winner go-ahead at the 10-minute mark on a Borisenok feed. Hoffay put away two goals in the final 2:29 of play, both on Borisenok assists. The Cardinals broke up Hoffay’s pair with their final goal of the game at 1:19.
Borisenok found Armbruster for a 6-3 lead at 27:10 of the second. Guzzo would capitalize on a Rivas assist at the 24-minute mark before Rivas finalized all scoring with a free position goal at 22:48.
Ithaca, who has won three straight contests, improves to 9-5 over the Cardinals in a series dating back to 2001.
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