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HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Visiting Nazareth got overtime goals from Haley DeVona and Brooke Sullivan Saturday and senior goalie Ashley Kirch made a key save in the closing seconds of a 13-12 women's lacrosse victory over Stevens in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The victory at Stevens' DeBaun Athletic Complex clinched the regular-season Empire 8 title for the Golden Flyers, who improved to 12-3 overall and 7-1 in the E8. Stevens dropped to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in conference games. Nazareth will be the top seed and host for next weekend's conference tournament. The Golden Flyers will play fourth-seeded Ithaca in a first-round matchup Saturday. Second-seeded St. John Fisher and third-seeded Stevens will meet in the other semifinal. The championship game is Sunday May 3.

"It's exciting for our team and exciting for our program," said Nazareth Coach Traci Lian. "We are proud to be able to host the conference tournament."

On Saturday, Nazareth scored the first four goals of the second half to snap a 5-5 deadlock. Stevens battled back and benefited from four Nazareth yellow cards in the second half to tie the score at 11-11 to force overtime. Kathleen Kalbian's goal with 2:00 left tied the score and resulted in a six-minute overtime.

DeVona's fourth goal of the game with 4:32 left in overtime gave Nazareth the lead for good and Sullivan added a free-position goal with 3:09 to go to give Nazareth a 13-11 lead. Julianna Ricci scored for Stevens with 2:45 left to trim Nazareth's lead to one goal.

The Golden Flyers then had the ball following a Stevens turnover, but Nazareth turned the ball over in the closing minute and Stevens was able to generate a free-position attempt following a Nazareth foul with :35 left. Kirch came up big for Nazareth by saving the free-position attempt by Kalbian to preserve the win.

Erika Wilcox scored five goals for Stevens, including two within the first 20 minutes of play as the Ducks surged to a 4-1 lead. Nazareth battled back as junior Carly Gates scored three times in the first half. Gates and sophomore Leah Marvin scored 13 seconds apart in the final minute of the half to square the score at 5-5. Suzie Gray also scored for Nazareth in the first 30 minutes.

DeVona then went to work for Nazareth in the second half. She scored unassisted just 29 seconds into the half to break the tie and Nazareth never trailed again. Goals by Kate Rothrock, Bri Mancini and DeVona again followed within the first five minutes of the half as the Golden Flyers took a seemingly safe 9-5 lead. Stevens, though, stormed back to score the next three goals, including two following Nazareth yellow cards, to close within 9-8.

Goals by Rothrock and DeVona followed to help Nazareth regain its three-goal cushion, but Stevens came back again with two more extra-man goals and the unassisted goal by Kalbian to send the game to overtime.

Nazareth had a 28-27 edge in shots, but was able to control possession time by winning 18 of 29 draw controls. DeVona and Gates each had five draw controls and junior defender Kayla McKay had three. Kirch finished with five saves.
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