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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Michelle Cook converted a free position opportunity with 8:04 remaining in the second half to lead host Nazareth to the 15-14 victory over William Smith in a non-conference women's lacrosse game. Senior Chelsey Amidon finished with five goals and one assist.

The Golden Flyers' victory provides them with a 1-0 start to the season. The Herons open the season with a 0-1 record with the loss.

Amidon opened the scoring with an unassisted goal just 52 seconds into the game. After Kathryn Gillan scored on a free position shot, Nazareth reclaimed the lead after sophomore Megan Cregan found the back of the net.

The Herons answered by scoring four of the next six goals to take a 5-4 lead with just under 13 minutes remaining in the first half. Callie Frelinghuysen ignited the run then assisted on Liz Seidel's goal. Sandwiched between William Smith's four goals was an unassisted goal by Amidon and a free position goal by sophomore Erinn Wood. The Herons' final two goals came with William Smith down a player after Gillian received a yellow card. Lucy Johnson and Frelinghuysen each scored in a span of 1:27 to finish the run during Gillian's penalty.

The Golden Flyers rallied by scoring three straight goals. Sophomore Alyssas Johnston and Cook both converted free position opportunities to reclaim Nazareth's lead, 6-5, with about 7:00 to play in the first half. Amidon added her third goal of the game three minutes after Cook's goal to stretch the Golden Flyers' lead to 7-5.

After Johnson tallied her second goal of the game to pull the Herons to within one goal, senior Kristine Olijnyk and Cook scored back-to-back goals in a span of 16 seconds to provide Nazareth with a three-goal lead, 9-6, with 1:41 remaining in the half. Johnson found the back of the Golden Flyers' net for the third time to trim Nazareth's lead to two goals at the break.

William Smith came out firing in the second half as the Herons scored two goals in the first 45 seconds of the period to tie the game. Two minutes later, Amidon and Johnston each scored to extend the Golden Flyers' lead to 11-9. After Johnson tallied her fourth goal of the game for the Herons, sophomore Kayleigh Pearson recorded her first goal of the game. William Smith's Katie Dexter and Frelinghuysen each scored in the following minutes to tie the game for the seventh time, with 23:39 remaining in regulation.

Over the next 15 minutes, the teams traded a total of five goals. Each time the Golden Flyers claimed the advantage, the Herons answered to tie the game. Cook and Amidon each scored for Nazareth, which was answered by goals by Rosie Scheibel and Katherine Vesce for William Smith. Cook's fourth goal of the game, with 8:04 to play, was finally more than the Herons were able to match.

The Golden Flyers finished with a 16-15 edge in draw controls collected, and Nazareth also finished with advantages in shots (39-25) and ground balls (28-16). In addition to her goals, Amidon also finished with six caused turnovers and six gound balls.

Freshman Tara Prosak started the game in net for Nazareth and finished the game with five saves and eight goals against in about 45 minutes of playing time. Sophomore Shelby Robinson was credited with one save and six goals against in about 15 minutes in goal. The Herons' goalies also split time in net. Jessie Wilson started in goal and registered 12 saves and 12 goals against in about 53 minutes of playing time. Maggie McNair finished with one save and three goals against in about seven minutes.

The Golden Flyers are in action again Tuesday March 8th when Nazareth travels to Cortland for a non-conference game against the Red Dragons.