Women's Lacrosse | 4/23/2022 5:27:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's lacrosse team picked up its fifth-straight conference win following a 21-4 victory against Hartwick on Saturday afternoon, inside Growney Stadium. Fisher, which is receiving votes in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association national poll, now sits at 7-7, and 5-0 in the Empire 8, while Hartwick moves to 5-6, and 2-3 n the conference. The Cardinals victory crowned them as the Empire 8 regular season champions, as well as the hosting the upcoming Empire 8 conference tournament for the third year in a row.
Freshman Sydney Carpenter added to her incredible rookie year with seven points including five goals in the contest, while Mary Fiorentino finished the match with three goals and three assists. The trio of Bianca Giacona, Courtney O'Dea, and Kathleen Salanger all tallied four points in the game. Lilly Goodsell earned the win (7-7) after allowing just four goals in 60 minutes to go along with three saves.
With a chance to secure the regular season title, coach
Linda Michele's team came out ready to play, and scored three goals in the first seven minutes, including one from O'Dea, and two from Giacona.
With just over five minutes in the first quarter, Hartwick saved a shot from Giacona, and sprinted down the field to put a shot in the back of the net.
Just a minute later, a forced turnover from the Cardinals allowed Wendi Wojnovich to clear the ball and set up the Cardinal offense. Carpenter maneuvered her way through the defense and scored her first of five goals on the day.
From there, Fisher would tack on two more before closing out the quarter, leading 6-1.
The offense didn't miss a beat in the second quarter, as Ella Stewart picked off a Hartwick pass and outran the defense down the field to score a fast break goal.
As the quarter wore on, Fisher would outscore the Hawks 7-1 to go into halftime leading 13-2.
The second half was all Fisher, as the Cardinals outmatched the Hawks in draw controls, 8-4, in the second half. The consistent success on draw controls allowed Fisher keep pressure on the Hawks defense, leading to eight goals in the half.
Leading 20-4 halfway through the fourth quarter, Fisher's Emma Biel would find the back of the net for her third goal of the year, giving the Cardinals a 17-point advantage.
With the clock hitting zero and the horn blowing, Fisher's athletes stormed Goodsell in goal, as the Cardinals secured the regular season championship with a 21-4 win over Hartwick.
Fisher's regular season continues as the team will travel to Alfred at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, with a chance to sweep the conference in its final Empire 8 matchup.