Field Hockey | 10/23/2021 2:06:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – For the third year in a row, the St. John Fisher College field hockey team has captured the Empire 8 Regular Season Championship after the Cardinals held Washington and Jefferson College at bay on Saturday afternoon in a 2-0 win at Growney Stadium. With the win, Fisher will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Championship tournament. The Cardinals improved to 9-6 on the year and remained unblemished in league play at 7-0 while the presidents dipped to 4-7 overall and 3-4 against conference competition.
The win had added significance as the Cardinals celebrated and honored the four members of their senior class including Alyssa Andres, Abby Harris, Gianna Palma and Bre Socker prior to the opening whistle.
After a scoreless first half of play, the Cardinals broke through just 77 seconds into the third quarter when Andres slapped one in front of the Presidents' cage that Audrey Grieb deflected into the back of the goal to make it 1-0.
From there, Fisher doubled its advantage in the 40th minute when Emma Cooper rebounded her own shot before sending a pass across the crease to Grieb who buried it into the open net for her second tally of the afternoon.
As the game wore on, Washington and Jefferson looked to cut into the Cardinals' lead, but Fisher's offense was too overpowering at the other end as head coach
Victoria Bothner's squad earned four penalty corners over the final 15 minutes of play to post its sixth shutout of the season.
Sophia Trozzi earned her ninth win of the year on Saturday and another clean sheet after the sophomore made one stop over 60 minutes of play.
Fisher will return to action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday when it travels to Houghton to take on the Highlanders in its conference finale.