Box Score Box | Updated stats
ALFRED, N.Y. -- Erinn Wood scored five goals and added an assist and Leah Cronister scored a career-best four goals Saturday as visiting Nazareth defeated Alfred, 15-9, in an Empire 8 Conference women's lacrosse game at Merrill Field.

The game was the conference opener for both teams. Nazareth improved to 3-4 overall, while Alfred fell to 3-3.

Alfred's Ali Garcia scored the first goal of the game, then Nazareth scored four straight over a seven-minute stretch and never trailed thereafter. Alyssa Johnston tied the score just 10 seconds after Garcia's goal, then Cronister gave Nazareth the lead less than a minute after that.

Goals by Amy McIntosh and Megan Cregan followed to give Nazareth a 4-1 lead. Cronister scored two more times before the first half ended as Nazareth led 8-4 at the break.

Wood added all five of her goals in the second half, including three on free-position shots. Freshman Brooke Sullivan and Cronister also scored in the second half for the Golden Flyers, who outshot the Saxons 37-24 and had a 20-18 advantage in ground balls. Nazareth also won 17 of 26 draw controls, with Cregan, Sullivann and Wood winning four each.

Sophomore Tara Prosak played the first 30 minutes in goal and had three saves. Junior Shelby Robinson played the second half and had six saves.

Nazareth resumes its conference schedule next weekend with road games at Ithaca Friday at 4 p.m. and at Utrica Saturday at 1 p.m.