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HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Host Stevens used a 4-0 second-half scoring surge to break a 5-5 tie and the Ducks went on to defeat Nazareth in an Empire 8 Conference women's lacrosse game, 9-5.

The Ducks, ranked ninth nationally in Division III, remained unbeaten in conference games at 7-0. The Ducks are 12-2 overall. Nazareth had a three-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in E8 games.

Kara Rafferty scored for the Ducks just two minutes into the second half to give Stevens the lead for good at 6-5. The score went unchanged for nearly 17 minutes thereafter until Stevens got a goal from Joey galligan and gradually pulled away.

Less than a minute later Michelle Buonacuore scored her third goal of the game and Pam Loria scored on a free-position shot just :41 after that to provide the difference.

Senior Kristine Olijnyk scored two goals for Nazareth and helped stake the Golden Flyers to leads of 3-2 and 4-3 in the opening half. Sophomores Megan Cregan and Alyssa Johnston also scored in the first half along with senior Michelle Cook.

Buonacuore also scored twice for Stevens in the first half, including a free-position goal with 5:41 left to give the Ducks a 5-4 lead. An unassisted goal by Cook with 1:37 left closed out the scoring for the Golden Flyers and tied the score before halftime.

Freshman Tara Prosak played all 60 minutes in goal for Nazareth and totaled eight saves. Melanie Welcome had six saves for Stevens.

Nazareth will conclude its regular-season schedule with a pair of road games next weekend. The Golden Flyers visit Ithaca Friday at 4 p.m. and Elmira Saturday at 4 p.m.