Fisher Takes Fifth-Straight E8 Title in OT Thriller
The St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse program recorded its fifth-straight Empire 8 Conference Championship title against Ithaca College on Sunday afternoon, winning on a Chrissy Cook goal for a sudden death victory in overtime, 9-8.
Fisher will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship which will be announced at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night at the selection show.
Goalkeeper Hayley Peets was named the tournament MVP after tallying eight saves in today's game.
It was a back-and-forth battle for the Cardinals and Bombers who each scored three back-to-back goals in the opening 20 minutes. Fisher's goals came from Cori Holbrook, Chrissy Cook, and Sierra Badger.
Ithaca would take its first lead of the game at 4-3 with just six to play in the first half, but Fisher answered with one more goal before the half from Jamie Wallace.
The Bombers came up with two saves early in the second and scored to take the lead at 5-4, butJordan Johnson would find the back of the net just one minute later to tie the game up at 5-5.
Two more back-to-back goals from both teams led the game to a 7-7 tie with under 10 left to play. Holbrook scored her 33rd goal of the season four minutes later giving the Cardinals a one-goal advantage heading into the final minutes. Ithaca was determined to hang on, scoring the final regulation goal to tie the game at 8-8 with under three to play. Fisher's Cook had a scoring opportunity in the final seconds but could not get a good shot off in time to get the victory in regulation, however she would have the same opportunity just minutes later as both teams headed into overtime.
Peets tallied two crucial saves in the second half including a stick-to-stick block on a 1v1 fast break to preserve the Fisher lead with just five to go.
The first three minutes of overtime passed scoreless, but with 29 seconds remaining Cook delivered a shot from far out that skipped past the keeper low and away to get the golden goal sudden death victory and fifth-straight Empire 8 Title for the Cardinals.
Cook, Wallace, Holbrook, and Badger each finished with two goals apiece.
Fisher's first opponent in the NCAA Division III Championship will be announced Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. during the selection show.