ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth field hockey team defeated St. John Fisher for the first time since 2019 on Wednesday night, downing the Cardinals 2-0 behind goals from Michaela Cushman and Lydia Coombs. Nazareth goaltender Morgan Russo was spectacular all night, making 15 saves and earning her third shutout of the year. 
 
Nazareth moves to 7-7 overall and 5-3 in Empire 8 play, while Fisher drops to 6-10 and 4-3 in league play.
 
Nazareth's last win over the Cardinals was November 8, 2019, a 2-1 triumph in the Empire 8 tournament.
 
It was a slow start to the game with just five shots in the opening quarter.
 
Michaela Cushman scored her 12^th goal of the season just 14 seconds into the second quarter. She picked off the opening pass and split a trio of defenders down the left side, before slashing past two more to rifle it into the back of the net.
 
It was 1-0 at the half. Although the Cardinals had eight penalty corners to Nazareth's 1, Russo made five first half saves to keep the slate blank.
 
Just under two minutes into the third quarter Coombs scored her third goal of the season. She stole a pass down the right side and ripped a shot in heavy traffic that found its way into the back of the net.

Russo came up big in the waning seconds of the third, covering the ball as time expired on a point-blank opportunity. She made another big save on the untimed penalty corner to close out the quarter. 
 
Russo stood tall once again in the fourth, including making six saves in less than a minute span around the nine-minute mark. She finished with 15 saves, the seventh time this season she has recorded double-digit saves.
 
Nazareth returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to Robert's Wesleyan for a 6 p.m. contest.