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ITHACA, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth trimmed its deficit to one goal twice but Ithaca held off the Golden Flyers' rally attempts and went on to defeat Nazareth 4-2 in an Empire 8 field hockey game on Saturday afternoon. Senior Lindsey Smith scored for Nazareth in the first half, and senior Kailee O'Hara scored the Golden Flyers' second half goal.

Following the loss, Nazareth slides to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Empire 8. The Bombers improve to 4-2 overall and stand at 1-0 in Empire 8 contests.

After over 17 minutes of scoreless action, Lindsay Flanagan and Natalie Lynch each scored in a span of 60 seconds to give Ithaca a quick 2-0 lead. Flanagan's goal came after she made an attack on the right side and deked around Nazareth goalie Shannon Winney. Winney made the initial save, but Flanagan collected her own rebound to score on her second shot. Lynch scored on a shot from about 15 yards away after she received a pass from Andrea Pace.

With roughly 13 minutes remaining in the first half, Smith put Nazareth on the board to cut the Golden Flyers' deficit to one goal. Smith's goal came after she was able to carry the ball up the right wing for about 30 yards. Smith buried her shot inside the right post from 12 yards out.

Ithaca scored first in the second half to reclaim its two-goal advantage. Following a scramble in front of the Nazareth goal, Pace found the back of the Golden Flyers' goal about 14 minutes into the period. Less than four mintutes later, however, O'Hara answered to cut Nazareth's deficit back to a single goal. O'Hara scored off a shot from about seven yards away from the Bombers' net.

Despite the momentum from O'Hara's goal, Ithaca scored an insurance goal with 14:03 to play in regulation to extend its lead to 4-2. Julia Conroy's pivotal goal came off a pass from Pace following a corner opportunity. It was Conroy's sixth goal of the season.

Winney finished with a game-high nine saves for the Golden Flyers. Winney made back-to-back saves toward the end of the first half after a penalty corner. The saves prevented the Bombers from stretching their lead before halftime. Kelly Singleton made seven saves for Ithaca. The Bombers finished with a 21-16 advantage in total shots, including a 13-10 edge in shots on goal. Senior Tessa Knapp finished the contest with a game-high five shots for the Golden Flyers, including three shots on goal. Ithaca had an 11-10 edge in penalty corner opportunities.

Nazareth's offense threatened the Bombers throughout the game. About 12 minutes into the game, O'hara had a breakaway opportunity, but Singleton came off her line to poke the ball away. Nazareth also had an opportunity to score about 10 minutess later. Knapp's shot on Nazareth's penalty corner opportunity was blocked way by Singleton after she made a diving save at the left post.

The Golden Flyers are in action again when Nazareth travels to Houghton on September 19th for another Empire 8 contest.