BOXSCORE l
CUMULATIVE STATSROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Junior Katie Schneeberger tallied five goals and added one assist to lead the host Golden Flyers to a 12-9 victory over Ithaca in an Empire 8 conference women's lacrosse game Sunday.
With the victory, Nazareth improves to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in Empire 8 games. The Golden Flyers have won 25 consecutive regular-season games over conference opponents. The Bombers dropped to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference games with the loss.
Nazareth surged to a 2-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game as sophomores Nora Davis and Jennifer Young each found the back of the net. Ithaca's Kylie McClure scored two of the three goals to cut the Golden Flyers' lead to 3-2. Between McClure's two goals, Schneeberger sent a pass to freshman Michelle Cook who scored her first goal of the game. Nazareth finished the first half with three unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead at halftime. Schneeberger started the Golden Flyers' scoring run with her first goal of the afternoon while Davis and junior Shannon Lattimore each added one goal.
Ithaca scored three goals in the first 6:47 of the second half to get back into the game. Becky Bedard, Meagan Howell, and Catherine Hurley each recorded one goal to bring the Bombers within one goal, 6-5. Schneeberger scored on a free position shot and senior Sara Spillane each scored after receiving a pass from freshman Alyssa Mulheron to extend Nazareth's lead to 8-5 with 17:43 remaining. Kim Medla answered for the Bombers with an unassisted goal followed by an unassisted goal from Hurley 23 seconds later to make the score 8-7 with 15:20 left to play.
After Nazareth's Davis and Ithaca's Medla traded goals within a minute of each other, Schneeberger scored on two free position shots to give the Golden Flyers an 11-8 advantage with under nine minutes left in the game. The Bombers were able to cut Nazareth's lead to 11-9 after Medla recorded her third goal of the contest, but Schneeberger secured the Golden Flyers' victory by scoring her fifth goal of the game to put Nazareth ahead 12-9 with 1:54 to play in the game.
Junior Maria Fusco totaled 10 saves in goal for Nazareth while Emily Brooks finished with three saves for the Bombers.
Ithaca held a 25-17 advantage in shots and an 18-9 advantage in ground balls, but Nazareth finished with a 14-9 edge in draw controls. The Golden Flyers also connected on four of five free position opportunities while Ithaca connected on two of eight chances.
Nazareth continues its conference homestand next weekend with two crucial Empire 8 games. The Golden Flyers face Hartwick Saturday then take on 19th-ranked Stevens Sunday.