FISHER DEFEATS NAZARETH IN OVERTIME, 9-8
Cardinals claim Empire 8 Conference title
» GAME SUMMARY | » CUMULATIVE STATS

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (May 6, 2007) -- St. John Fisher scored the game-winning goal with 1:24 left in overtime Sunday and the Cardinals held off Nazareth for a 9-8 women's lacrosse victory in the Empire 8 Conference championship game.

The victory clinched for Fisher the E8 title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Fisher improved to 14-5 overall. Nazareth is 13-2. Nazareth defeated Fisher during the regular season, 10-7 in overtime.

Junior Laurie Quackenbush (Penn Yan Academy/Penn Yan, NY) scored her 40th goal of the season on a free-position shot to snap the 8-8 deadlock and helped Fisher claim its first-ever NCAA tournament berth in women's lacrosse. It was Fisher's first lead of a game that was tied 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8.

Nazareth had two chances to tie the score in the closing minute of overtime, but Fisher goalie Danielle Murphy (Skaneateles HS/Skaneateles, NY) saved a shot by Caitlin Zimmer (East Rochester HS/East Rochester, NY) with :43 left and a subsequent free-position shot by Allison Bayer (Corning East HS/Corning, NY) with :39 left to preserve the victory. Murphy finished with a career-high 21 saves for the Cardinals.

Nazareth led for most of the first half and it was 6-4 following a goal by Jennifer Young (Marcellus HS/Marcellus, NY) with 5:07 left in the half. Fisher closed the first half with goals by Katie Glavin (Corcoran HS/Syracuse, NY) and Ashley Fenyn (Newark HS/Newark, NY) to tie the score at 6-6 at the break.

In the second half, the Golden Flyers struck first as Tia Morgia (Watertown HS/Watertown, NY) scored her team-leading 34th goal of the season. Fisher answered just 41 seconds later as Caitlin Navor (Brighton HS/Rochester, NY) scored off an assist from Fenyn. A free-position goal by Beth Quartier (Cicero-North Syracuse/Cicero, NY) enabled Nazareth to regain the lead, 8-7, with 14:18 left, but Fisher responded again as Theresa Nobilski (Brighton HS/Rochester, NY) netted the tying goal with 6:27 left in regulation.

Quartier finished with three goals for Nazareth, while Young added two goals. Nobilski and Quackenbush each had two goals for the Cardinals.

Nazareth dominated statistically with significant advantages in shots (42-19), ground balls (34-25) and draw controls (14-7). The Golden Flyers, however, scored on only 1 of 12 free-position attempts.

Nazareth now must hold out hope for one of five at-large berths to the 24-team NCAA Tournament. Pairings will be announced Sunday evening.