ROCHESTER, NY. (nazathletics.com) – Senior Grace Gardner capped her regular season in style on Saturday, posting a season-high 11 points (4G, 7A) to move into ninth place on Nazareth's single-season points list with 70 on the year, as the Golden Flyers rolled past Sage 19-2 on Senior Day at NLPA Field. In all, Nazareth had 8 different scorers.

Nazareth (4-13 overall and 4-5 E8) heads into the Empire 8 Championships as the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 seed Brockport (7-2) on Tuesday in the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. 

Nazareth honored seven seniors prior to the game — Sydney Dann, Emma Bossard, Makaelynn Neivel, Haley Dennison, Allie Klestinec, and Gardner.
How it Happened:

• The Golden Flyers came out firing, building a 5-0 lead through the first quarter. Gardner struck twice in the opening frame, including a free position goal, and added two assists as Nazareth dominated from the opening draw. Martin, Anna Myers, and Dann each chipped in as well. 
• The second quarter was more of the same, with Nazareth pouring in six more goals to take a commanding 11-1 lead into halftime. Gardner continued to orchestrate the offense, finishing the half with four assists. Maria DeLorenzo netted two quick goals to open the period, and Myers added two more to her tally. Isabella Bonaventre converted a man-up opportunity late in the half to push the lead to 11 before Sage scored on a free position shot at the buzzer.
• Nazareth kept the pressure on in the third, outscoring Sage 6-1 to push the advantage to 17-2. Martin had a standout quarter, netting three of her career-high four goals on the day. Myers added two more man-up goals, and Gardner continued to pile up assists, finishing the period with seven on the afternoon.
• Both teams traded goals in the fourth, with Gardner and senior Emma Bossard — who assisted each other's goals — combining for Nazareth's final two scores to close out the 19-2 victory.

Game Notes:

• Gardner recorded a season-high 11 points (4G, 7A), moving into ninth on the Nazareth single-season points list with 70 on the year
• Myers led all scorers with 5 goals and an assist for 6 points
• Martin posted a career-high 4 goals
• DeLorenzo added 2 goals
• Dann and Bossard each scored a goal on Senior Day
• Nazareth won 16 of 23 draw controls, with Bossard and Elizabeth Smith anchoring the circle
• Gianna Tantalo and Klestinec split time in goal, each allowing just one goal

Up Next:
E8 Quarterfinal matchup at #3 Brockport on Tuesday.

E8 Tournament Schedule

Final 2026 Empire 8 Women's Lacrosse Championship Seeds
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (9-0 E8)
No. 2 – SUNY Geneseo (8-1 E8)
No. 3 – SUNY Brockport (7-2 E8)
No. 4 – Utica University (6-3 E8) 
No. 5 – Hartwick College (5-4 E8)
No. 6 – Nazareth University (4-5 E8)
2026 Empire 8 Women's Lacrosse Championship Schedule

Tuesday, April 28 – First Round
No. 6 Nazareth University at No. 3 SUNY Brockport – 4 p.m.
No. 5 Hartwick College at No. 4 Utica University – 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 30 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
Winner of Utica/Hartwick at No. 1 St. John Fisher University – TBA.
Winner of SUNY Brockport/Nazareth at No. 2 SUNY Geneseo – 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 2 – Championship (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2 – TBA