Box | Updated stats
ALFRED, N.Y. – Kevin Hussey scored four goals and Jon Lippert added three for visiting Nazareth Saturday as the Golden Flyers clinched a berth in next week's Empire 8 Conference Tournament for men's lacrosse with a decisive and business-like 16-4 victory over Alfred.

The game was the regular-season finale for both teams and boosted Nazareth's overall record to 7-10, including a 5-3 mark in E8 games. After missing the conference playoffs last season, the Golden Flyers will return in 2019 as the fourth seed and will travel to top-seeded Stevens for a first-round matchup Wednesday. St. John Fisher and Hartwick will meet in the other semifinal game. The finals are Saturday. Alfred's season ends at 8-7 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

Nazareth never trailed Saturday in controlling the action for most of the way. Lippert and Hussey each scored for Nazareth in the opening period while Cale Donegan scored for the Saxons as the Golden Flyers led 2-1.

Nazareth scored five unanswered goals in the second quarter to seize command with Hussey scoring twice and Jon Parrinello contributing one goal and one assist.

The lead continued to grow in the second half as Nazareth scored three times in man-up situations with Lippert getting two more goals and Jeremy Jacob delivering one goal and one assist.

Nazareth also played well defensively in holding the Saxons in check. Goalie Eric Almquist made 13 saves and defender Owen Penoyer had three ground balls and four caused turnovers. Tristan Gosselin and Jordan Goldbourn each had two caused turnovers. Nazareth outshot Alfred 41-27 and had a 39-29 advantage in ground balls.

Alfred's scored with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter and then went about 44 minutes without scoring. In between the Golden Flyers scored 13 times.

In addition to Hussey and Lippert, Jacob finished with a two goals and three assists and Jack Crowley scored twice. Jon Roth, Keaton Doon, Drew McNerney and Mike Riis also had goals.

In matching up with Stevens Wednesday, the Golden Flyers will look to avenge a 19-11 regular-season defeat from April 13. The Ducks went unbeaten at 8-0 in their final season in the Empire 8, including an 18-6 win over Hartwick in Saturday's regular-season finale.