Fisher Wins Seventh Straight Empire 8 Title!
For the seventh-straight year, Linda Michele has led the St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team to an Empire 8 conference title, this time by defeating the top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology, 14-6, on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the No. 20 Cardinals increase their win-streak to 12 games, and improve their record to 17-2 overall on the season, tying the most wins in a single season since the 2016 season. The No. 24 Ducks finish up their 2018 campaign with an overall mark of 14-5.
Claire Bollin was named the Empire 8 Championship's Most Valuable Player after the senior made contributions all over the field during the weekend, totaling four goals, three assists, eight ground balls, four caused turnovers, and 16 draw controls.
The Cardinals opened up the scoring in the championship game, when
Kelsie Schindler and
Mallory Eymer both found the back of the net within the first two minutes after the opening whistle, only 25 seconds apart.
Stevens tallied its first goal of the game at the 25:46 mark, cutting the early Fisher lead back to one.
Over the next six minutes of game time, Eymer would tally her second of the game and 37th of the season, while
Claire Bollin added to her already one assist with back-to-back goals, giving the Cardinals a four goal advantage midway through the first half.
The Ducks again answered with a goal of their own at the 17:19 mark, however were held scoreless for the remainder of the half, as goalkeeper
Morgan Hayes and the Fisher defense showed its dominance.
The offense was not finished however, the second-seeded Cardinals found the back of the net four more times before the halftime horn sounded. Eymer was able to notch her hat-trick goal, which was followed by goals from Alison Rupp, Bollin, and
Jenna Lippert on the man-up advantage.
Fisher carried a 9-2 lead into the locker room, while also holding the advantage in shots on goal with 12, compared to the three of the Ducks.
Like the first half, the Cardinals were the first team on the scoreboard in the second half, when seniors
Mackenzie LeVan and Schindler were able to beat the Stevens goalkeeper, giving Fisher the 11-2 lead with just over 26 minutes remaining.
Both teams would trade goals back-and forth for the majority of the second half, starting with a Stevens tally at the 18:06 mark that cut the lead back to 11-3.
Mary Grace Doyle was next on the scoresheet for Fisher, followed by Eymer's fourth goal of the game on the Cardinals third the man-up advantage goal.
Eymer would finish off her five goal day at the 10:46 mark, while Stevens would add three goals in the final 11 minutes. Head Coach
Linda Michele's team's all-around performance helped secure the programs seventh consecutive Empire 8 crown and ninth conference championship in program history.
Hayes was credited with the victory, finishing with four saves and improving her season record to a perfect 11-0.
Erin Mills again led the way defensively for Fisher, finishing with a game-high three caused turnovers, while Bollin,
Logan Chase,
Sarah Miles and
Molly Tice each added two apiece.