Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting St. John Fisher scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes to play in regulation Saturday to take a 2-1 women's soccer victory over Nazareth at Golden Flyer Stadium.
The disappointing defeat, in front of a large senior day crowd, was the first of the season in Empire 8 Conference play for the Golden Flyers, who slipped to 4-1-2 in conference play and 9-5-2 overall. Fisher improved to 4-0-3 in conference play and 7-6-3 overall. The Cardinals clinched the top seed and hosting rights for next week's E8 Tournament. Nazareth will be the third seed and will visit Hartwick Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a first-round matchup with the Hawks, who defeated Sage Saturday, 1-0 in overtime. Utica gained the fourth seed and will visit St. John Fisher in the other first-round game.
Saturday's appeared destined for overtime after each team scored in the first half and were neutralized in the second. The Cardinals' Megan Letta, however, changed that thinking when she scored unassisted with 3:17 left. Nazareth goalie
Hannah Miller came off her line and bobbled a crossing pass that Letta was able to convert into her fifth goal of the season.
Nazareth had taken a 1-0 lead in the third minute of the game as freshman
McKayla Hughes scored her team-leading sixth goal off an assist from
Danielle Christ. Fisher went on to have the better of the play for the balance of the first half with a 12-4 advantage in shots and finally tied the score in the 37th minute as Carli Kovarik converted a pass from Abigail Dwyer.
Nazareth played better in the second half with an 8-5 edge in shots and four corner kicks, but the Golden Flyers were unable to convert. Miller finished with nine saves for the Golden Flyers, while Gabriella D'Ambrosio had five for the Cardinals.
Before the game, the Golden Flyers honored their five seniors --
Noelle Colilli,
Lindsie Farrance,
Erika Lepik,
Hannah Miller and
Mia Strollo -- who were competing in the their final home game. The five were largely responsible for a four-year record of 45-18-10, including a conference mark of 21-5-5.