ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-seeded Nazareth claimed its first Empire 8 Conference title in women's soccer since 2014 Saturday as the Golden Flyers blanked St. John Fisher, 3-0, in the championship at Golden Flyer Stadium.

Nazareth improved to 10-6-3 in winning its 11th E8 title. The Golden Flyers also gained their 11th NCAA Tournament berth (and first since 2016) with the victory. St. John Fisher dropped to 10-6-1 overall.

Senior defender Mallory Ott was named the tournament MVP as she helped orchestrate Nazareth's 10th shutout of the season. The Cardinals were able to generate 17 shots, but Nazareth's defense helped keep Fisher off the scoreboard with freshman goalkeeper Annika Monfort totaling 10 saves.

Sarah Merriwether scored for Nazareth in the first half and Maggie Hoey and Kristen Prohaska scored in the second half.

Merriwether's goal, her second of the E8 Tournament, came in the 34th minute as she intercepted a pass along the left wing, dribbled into the box and nailed a low shot into the left corner of the goal.

The second goal came early in the second half following a corner kick by Caleigh Cahoon. Fisher goalkeeper Halle Tickell was able to get her fingertips on the cross, but the ball came loose in the box and Hoey was able to slip a shot into the goal for her second tally of the season.

The third goal came off the foot of Prohaska in the 56th minute. Tickell came off her line to pick up a loose ball, but the ball was deflected out of the box. Prohaska was there to loft a shot over the keeper's head and into the goal from about 30 yards away. It was Prohaska's team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Nazareth had 16 shots overall with Tickell making nine saves. Monfort, meanwhile, lowered her goals-against average to 0.84 and improved her save percentage to .868 with her ninth shutout of the season.

As conference champion, Nazareth will make its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. The tournament brackets and first-round pairings will be announced Monday at 1 p.m.