Box l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth defeated visiting Hartwick 15-3 in an Empire 8 women's lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Flyers overwhelmed the Hawks with eight different players finding the back of the net. Senior Suzie Gray and juniors Nicole DeVona and Gabbie Charles each scored three times to lead the Nazareth attack.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 5-3 overall and start the conference schedule with a 1-0 record. Following the loss, Hartwick falls to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the Empire 8.

Senior Carly Gates had a part in each of Nazareth's first three goals. Gates earned an assist on Charles' opening goal of the game 3:34 into regulation. After Nazareth controlled the ensuing draw control, Gates scored her 12th goal of the season just nine seconds later. Junior Kate Rothrock converted another pass from Gates to stretch the Golden Flyers' lead to 3-0.

After Hartwick's Emma Knapp trimmed Nazareth's lead to two goals roughly nine minutes into the game, the Golden Flyers tallied four goals in a span of 7:14 to extend their advantage to 7-1. Nicole DeVona and Gray led the scoring run as both players scored twice. Haley DeVona, sophomore Katie Carroll, and Rothrock were credited with assists.

Roughly a minute after Gray provided Nazareth with the six-goal lead, Lauren Rosenberg scored her first of two goals for the Hawks. Before the end of the half, however, Charles reclaimed the Golden Flyers' six-goal advantage. Charles' second goal of the game stretched Nazareth's lead to 8-2 at halftime.

Similar to the first half, the Golden Flyers scored multiple times in the beginning of the second half, too. Rothrock assisted on a goal from Haley DeVona and Charles' third goal of the game. Rosenberg's second goal of the contest temporarily cut Nazareth's lead back to seven, 10-3, but the Golden Flyers scored four goals in about seven minutes to secure the victory. Gray, Nicole DeVona, Carroll, and Rothrock each found the back of the net. Rothrock's goal gave Nazareth a 14-3 lead with 15:09 to play in regulation. Sophomore Morgan Johnson tallied her second goal of the season on a free position shot in the last 10 minutes for the final margin of victory.

Nazareth finished with advantages in shots (24-18), ground balls (19-16), and draw controls collected (14-6). Freshman Brianna Rizzari earned the victory in the Nazareth net as she recorded a season-high seven saves in the opening 49:37. Sophomore Mackenzie Corbett saved the only shot she faced in the final 10:23. Carleigh Tarala had five saves for the Hawks. Gates collected a team-high five draw controls for the Golden Flyers.

After Saturday's game, Haley DeVona and Rothrock lead the Golden Flyers in scoring with 27 points apiece. DeVona has 19 goals and eight assists while Rothrock had 15 goals and 12 assists.

Nazareth is in action again on March 30th when it hosts Fredonia in a non-conference contest at 4 p.m.