Box l Updated stats
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth scored 10 goals in the second half to outscore Elmira 15-8 in a women's Empire 8 Conference lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon. In a game in which the winner earned the conference tournament berth, seniors Alyssa Johnston and Megan Cregan combined for nine of the Golden Flyers' goals. Junior Tara Prosak made 11 saves to earn the victory.

With the win, Nazareth improves to 9-7 overall and 5-2 in conference games. The Soaring Eagles fall to 8-8 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 games with the loss. The Golden Flyers secured the third seed for the Empire 8 Tournament and will play second-seeded St. John Fisher. The Cardinals defeated Nazareth 12-8 in their April 13th contest.

After trading the game's first four goals in the opening 12:12 of the first half, Cregan scored after receiving a pass from Johnston to give Nazareth the lead with just under 17 minutes to play in the first half. Johnston scored two free position goals to stretch Nazareth's lead 5-2 with 11:27 to play in the first half. Elmira answered with two goals before halftime to trim the Soaring Eagles' deficit to one goal, 5-4, at the break.

Junior Amy McIntosh set up the Golden Flyers' first goal only 41 seconds into regulation as she fed Johnston with a pass for Johnston's first tally of the game. Freshman Carly Gates scored Nazareth's second goal about 10 minutes into the first half to reclaim the Golden Flyers' lead after Marki Michaels had tied the game.

After Elmira tied the game at five goals apiece to open the second half, Johnston scored two goals sandwiched around a goal by Wood to put Nazareth ahead 8-5 7:37 into the period. Following the quick outburst, Nazareth maintained its lead through the remainder of regulation.

Nazareth took control of the game with a 5-0 scoring run to extend an 8-6  into a 13-6 lead with about 12 minutes to play in regulation. The Golden Flyers' five goals were scored in a span of only 4:23. Cregan scored the first and fourth goals of the run. Classmate Erinn Wood assisted on both of Cregan's scores. McIntosh, sophomore Brooke Sullivan, and Wood each added goals to put Nazareth's lead out of reach. Cregan and junior Emily Rothrock scored in the final nine minutes to secure the win.

Ashton Hogan had a team-high four goals for the Soaring Eagles while Michaels finished with three goals. Moorea Spoljaric scored also scored for Elmira. Mary Kate Gellerman had a game-high 13 saves in the loss for the Soaring Eagles.

With their goals, Johnston and Cregan now lead the Golden Flyers in goals scored with 42 and 32, respectively.

Nazareth finished with advantages in draw controls (18-7), shots (35-22), and ground balls (28-21). Sullivan controlled five draw controls and Cregan collected four draw controls. Sullivan and senior Kayleigh Pearson each had two forced turnovers. Prosak finished with five ground balls to lead all players. Wood and Pearson each collected four ground balls.

The Golden Flyers play St. John Fisher on Saturday, May 4th, in the conference semifinals. Top-seeded and 13th-ranked Ithaca will host the tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The Bombers play fourth-seeded Stevens in their semifinal.