Score: St. John Fisher College 4, Elmira College 2
Records: St. John Fisher (5-12-1, 2-5-1 E8), Elmira (1-13-1, 0-6-1 E8)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. -- Campus Field

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Three unanswered goals in the second half allowed St. John Fisher College to spoil Elmira College's regular-season home finale on Tuesday, as the Cardinals overcame a one-goal deficit to defeat the Soaring Eagles by a 4-2 score at Campus Field.

Although EC was outshot by a wide 20-to-5 margin, the Soaring Eagles struck first in both halves, both times taking a one-goal lead over the Cardinals. However, but visitors responded immediately on both occasions to level the score and quickly halt any momentum gained by the Purple and Gold.

Elmira tallied the game's initial goal in the 19th minute on its only shot of the first half. Amy Sullivan '18 hit classmate Kerri Clark '18 with a high pass on the right-wing side, and on her second touch, Clark lofted a high cross towards Sara Kazerouni '18 inside the 18-yard box. Fisher keeper Melissa McGowan came off of her line but was unable to make a play on the ball, leaving the net wide-open net for Kazerouni, who was able to poke the ball just inside the left post.

Less than a minute-and-a-half later, the Cardinals drew the score even at 1-all. Off of a corner kick, an EC defender attempted to clear the ball out of the box, but her header went directly to Isabelle DeStefano, who ripped a shot from just outside the box past a diving Meghan Ray '19. Despite the goal, Ray's first-half performance in her first-ever collegiate start was admirable. The Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, native recorded five of her career-high six saves in the opening period to keep the score even.

The Soaring Eagles regained their lead in the 57th minute. Freshman defender Lily Kronick '21 ripped a pass from about 40 yards out in the direction of Jordyn Rousselle '18 in the middle of the field, but the pass skipped through traffic into the box. A hustling Clark was able to outrun the Fisher defense to the ball, and she fired a shot into the far corner of the net to put the Purple and Gold ahead 2-1. The goal was the first of Clark's collegiate career, while the assist was Kronick's first career point.

The Cardinals, however, needed a mere 32 seconds to tie the game once again. A one-touch pass from Hannah Buschner set up Elise Olivo with the ball and Ray came off of her line to challenge Olivo at the top corner of the six-yard box. As Ray slid to the ground, Olivo was able to navigate around the EC keeper for an open look at the net.

The tying goal was the first of a 3-0 second-half run made by the Cardinals to secure the Empire 8 Conference victory. Olivo posted the game-winner in the 64th minute and Abigail Barr padded the lead with an insurance tally in the 80th minute. Goalie Lila Platt entered off of the bench for Fisher at halftime and needed only one save in 45 minutes of action to register her first win.

News and Notes

• Elmira fell to 1-13-1 overall and 0-6-1 inside Empire 8 play.
• Tuesday's contest was EC's third multi-goal game of the 2017 season.
• The members of EC's Class of 2018 played the final home game of their careers on Tuesday.
• Kazernouni's goal was the third of her senior season and the 15th of her career.
• Clark scored her first career goal, while Kronick's assist on the play marked her first-ever point.
• Clark, who entered her third season at Elmira with one career point, has set season highs in every category with one goal, two assists and four points in 2017.
• Ray made her first career start between the posts and finished with career highs in minutes played (90) and saves (6).

 
Up Next
The 2017 regular-season finale against Nazareth College is set for Saturday, October 28, at 12:00 p.m. at the Golden Flyer Stadium in Rochester, New York.