Box Score UTICA – The third-seeded Nazareth women's lacrosse team fell short against second-seeded Utica on Wednesday in the Empire 8 semifinals, getting upended 18-12. Kate Metzler led the Golden Flyers with four goals and one assist.
 
It was the fourth-straight year that Nazareth and Utica met in the semifinals, with the Golden Flyers prevailing each of the previous three games by a goal (11-10 in 2023, 10-9 in 2022, and 9-8 in 2021).  
 
Metzler finishes her career just three goals shy of 100 and with 135 career points. After totaling 51 goals in her first four seasons, Metzler delivered 46 in her final campaign. 
 
Nazareth got into a hole early, falling behind 6-1 with 3:24 left in the first. The Golden Flyers, however, battled to come back, beginning with scoring the final goal of the quarter from Metzler.
 
In the second, Makenna Misiurewicz, Metzler (up), and Emily Paddock scored in just over a two-minute stretch to pull within 6-5. Misiurewicz had three goals in the game. She also finished the season with 69 draw controls which ranks third all-time on Nazareth's single season list.
 
Nazareth would not score the rest of the quarter and the Pioneers led 9-5 at the break, including scoring with just :02 seconds remaining.
 
Julia Dietz scored her lone goal of the game to 10-8 midway through the third.

Utica responded with the next three goals and took a 13-8 lead into the final frame.
 
Metzler's third of the day made it 13-9 in the fourth but the Golden Flyers would come no closer.
 
Maggie Vay and Liddie Hoare each had goals in the game.

Allie Klestinec finished with nine saves.