ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nationally ranked St. John Fisher took a two-goal lead late in the second half and then held on for an 8-7 women's lacrosse victory over the Golden Flyers Saturday on Nazareth's artificial turf field.

The Cardinals, ranked 11th nationally, won for the seventh time in a row to close their regular season schedule at 12-1 with a 7-0 mark in Empire 8 games. The Cardinals clinched the top seed for next week's E8 Conference Tournament. The Golden Flyers dropped to 6-5 overall and 5-1 in the E8 and will be the second seed next week. Both Fisher and Nazareth will receive byes in the six-team tournament and will host semifinal games next Friday, April 30.

Fisher led for most of Saturday's game, but the Golden Flyers stayed close throughout and were able to tie the score at 6-6 on a pair of goals by Emma States with less than 10 minutes to play.

Fisher countered with a pair of goals in a 79-second span to go up 8-6. Nazareth's Emma Robinson scored with :04 to go to make it 8-7, but the Golden Flyers were unable to control the final draw control before time expired.

States finished with three goals and one assist for Nazareth. Robinson, Lauren Caldwell, Callahan Lyon and Regan McGwin each scored once.

Fisher's stingy defense yielded Nazareth just four first-half shots, but the Golden Flyers were able to score on two of them -- States and Lyon -- and trailed just 4-2 at the half.

Fisher opened up a three-goal lead by scoring in the opening minute of the second half, but Nazareth got a goal from McGwin and one from Caldwell on a free-position shot to close the gap. Fisher scored on a free-position opportunity of its own before States scored off a pass from Caldwell and then added an unassisted tally less than two minutes after that to tie the score.

Fisher finished with a 26-14 edge in shots and a 12-5 advantage in draw controls. Vicki Arena finished with six ground balls and three draw controls. Katie Lawrence made eight saves in goal.

Prior to the game, Nazareth was able to honor its seven seniors who were competing in their final regular-season home game. That group included Jordan Knapp, Callahan Lyon, Dylann Hogan, Vicki Arena, Tori Blazey, Regan McGwin and Jade Hendricks. In addition, the Golden Flyers recognized assistant coaches Rachel Wilson and Brianna Rizzari.