Box Score Box l Updated stats
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Twenty-first ranked Ithaca outscored Nazareth 13-1 in the first half and went on to defeat the Golden Flyers 19-3 in a women's Empire 8 Conference lacrosse game on Friday afternoon. Junior Alyssa Johnston had two goals and classmate Megan Cregan recorded one goal for Nazareth.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers fall to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in conference games. The Bombers improve to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in Empire 8 contests.

Ithaca surged to a 5-0 lead before Cregan scored 13:03 into the first half to put Nazareth on the board. Sophomore Alex McFaddin was credited with an assist on Cregan's goal. The Bombers responded by closing the first half with an 8-0 scoring run to build their insurmountable lead.

Nicole Borisenok and Kim Armbruster combined to score Ithaca's first five goals in the opening 11:09 of the game. Borisenok entered the contest with 19 goals and Armbruster had tallied 11 goals coming into Friday's game.

Following Cregan's goal, Molly Fischer scored back-to-back goals to extend the Bombers' advantage. Kaitlyn Hoffay, Nikki Dahl, and Racquel Lividini each had one goal midway through the period to build Ithaca's lead to 10-1. Before the end of the period, Tracy Rivas added two goals, and Fischer collected her third goal of the game to provide the Bombers with a 12-goal advantage at halftime.

Ithaca's potent offensive attack struck again to begin the second half as Hoffay scored 44 seconds into the period. Johnston scored 1:16 after Hoffay's goal for Nazareth. After another goal by Dahl, Johnston scored her second goal to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit back to 12 goals with just under 25 minutes to play.

The Bombers continued attacking to thwart a possible Nazareth rally. Ithaca finished with the final four goals of the contest. Rivas, Becky Guzzo, Nikki Standera, and Lividini recorded the Bombers' respective goals. With her three goals in Friday's contest, Rivas has 100 goals in her career at Ithaca. Rivas has already amassed 25 goals this season.

Sophomore Tara Prosak and junior Shelby Robinson split time in goal for the Golden Flyers. Prosak tallied a game-high 12 saves while allowing 14 goals in about 44 minutes of action. Robinson allowed five goals in just over 16 minutes of game time.

For the Bombers, Jess Worthman earned the victory after recording six saves in about 45 minutes of playing time. Brittany Romano finished with two saves in the final 14:36. The Golden Flyers scored all three of their goals on Worthman.

Ithaca dominated in shots (39-12), draw controls (18-6), ground balls (24-12), and forced Nazareth into committing 14 turnovers to build its overwhelming lead. The Golden Flyers, however, allowed the Bombers to convert just one of five free position opportunities.

Nazareth continues its Empire 8 schedule with a 1 p.m. game at Utica on Saturday, April 7th.