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PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Using a methodical offensive attack and a swarming defense, top-seeded St. John Fisher scored an 11-1 women's lacrosse victory over the visiting Golden Flyers Saturday in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament at Growney Stadium.

The victory was the 16th straight for the 12th-ranked Cardinals, who stand at 17-1 overall. Nazareth season ended with a 10-8 overall record. Fisher will play again Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for the conference title against the winner of Saturday's other semifinal between Utica and Stevens. The winner gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

In Saturday's game, the Golden Flyers held their own defensively, but managed just nine shots as scoring chances were few and far between. Fisher's Sydney DeGirolamo scored less than three minutes into the game and the score stayed 1-0 for the next 13 minutes. The Cardinals were able to score three more times before halftime to take control, while Nazareth managed just one shot in the first 30 minutes. That came early in the game on a free-position attempt y Addilys Geitner, who fired the shot over the top of the goal.

Fisher's lead grew to 6-0 in the second half, before Nazareth finally got on the board with an unassisted score by Geitner at 22:03.

The Golden Flyers were unable to sustain any momentum, though, as Fisher added the next two goals within a 24-second time frame to go up 8-1.

Nazareth generated more attack in the second half, but the Golden Flyers misfired on four free-position attempts as Fisher goalie Cludia Mocciaro mde six saves.

Fisher also finished with advantages in ground balls (29-18) and draw controls (11-3). Brianna Rizzari played her final game in goal for the Golden Flyers and was credited with 11 saves, leaving her with 570 for her career, two shy of Teryn Wineburg's all-time record, held since 2002.