Beth Quartier broke a 5-5 tie with 19:10 left in the game and the Nazareth Golden Flyers scored the final three goals of the contest, beating the Rensselaer women’s lacrosse team 8-5 on Saturday.
The first half was a defensive struggle with the only goal coming three and a half minutes into the game. Golden Flyer Melissa Passno took a pass from Caitlin Zimmer and beat goaltender Megan Gaul. Gaul and Nazareth goalie Lindsey Burgess took over the rest of the period, making nine and six saves respectively, with each stopping several free position attempts.
The Red Hawks drew blood quickly in the second half, getting goals from freshman Tory Lyons and senior Hilary Lahn to take a 2-1 lead with just over four minutes gone in the period. The lead didn’t last long, as the Golden Flyers tied the game just 40 seconds after Lahn’s goal.
Elizabeth Wells sandwiched a Nazareth goal between markers by sophomore Brianne Balzer and Lahn, giving RPI a 4-3 lead with just under 22 minutes left to play.
The Golden Flyers retook the lead with two goals in a 27 second span. Wells tallied her second goal of the game off a free position shot and Kim Kreskow put Nazareth up 5-4 with 20:21 left.
Junior Kate Phillips tied the game 48 seconds later with a free position shot, but it was the final goal the Red Hawks could muster as Quartier gave the Golden Flyers the lead for good just 23 seconds after Phillips’ goal. Zimmer and Tia Morgia added insurance goals for Nazareth, who improve to 7-1.
Both Burgess and Gaul finished with 11 saves apiece.
RPI, which falls to 3-4 on the season, returns home this weekend when Liberty League rivals Clarkson and St. Lawrence invade Harkness Field.
Friday’s game against the Golden Knights begins at 4 pm, and Saturday’s contest with the Saints starts at 2 pm.
