ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Callahan Lyon and sophomore Emma States each scored twice in the second half for host and second-seeded Nazareth Friday as the Golden Flyers rallied to edge third-seeded Utica, 9-8, in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for women's lacrosse.

The victory, on a wind-swept artificial turf field at Nazareth, advanced the Golden Flyers to Sunday's Empire 8 Conference championship game at St. John Fisher against the top-seeded Cardinals (13-1) at 12 noon. Fisher routed Hartwick, 22-3, in the other E8 semifinal matchup. The winner of Sunday's game will gain an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Golden Flyers are seeking their first conference title since 2006 and their first NCAA berth since 2007.

On Friday, the Golden Flyers had to battle hard to overcome the Pioneers, who finished the season 9-6 overall with three of the losses coming against Nazareth. Utica led 4-3 at halftime and the Pioneers extended that advantage to 6-4 in the second half.

Nazareth countered with three straight goals to take its first lead, 7-6, since early in the game. Lyon assisted on a goal by States with 17:29 left. Then Lyon and Lauren Caldwell each delivered unassisted scores to give Nazareth the lead.

Utica tied the score at 7-7 with 10:45 to go, but Nazareth got an unassisted goal from States less than a minute later and Lyon converted on a free-position shot with 5:38 to go to give Nazareth a two-goal advantage for the first time in the game. Utica's Samantha DeCondo scored on a free-position shot with 1:10 left, but Nazareth's Vicki Arena won the ensuing draw control and -- after a Nazareth timeout -- the Pioneers never touched the ball on offense again.

States finished with four goals and Lyon had three goals and one assist. Caldwell and Emma Robinson were the other goal scorers. DeCondo had three goals for Utica.

Both goalies played well with Katie Lawrence making nine saves for Nazareth and Claire Frier stopping 10 shots for the Pioneers. Arena had a strong game for Nazareth defensively with five draw controls, five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Lawrence had six ground balls in addition to her nine saves.

Sunday's game will be the third of the season between Nazareth and St. John Fisher in women's lacrosse. Fisher won a non-conference game at Fisher, 7-5, on March 10 and the Cardinals won again, 8-7 on April 24. Fisher is ranked 10th nationally in Division III and is seeking its ninth straight Empire 8 Conference title.