PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The 10^th-ranked Ithaca College women's lacrosse team continued to roll through its Empire 8 Conference schedule on Saturday afternoon, scoring a huge 12-9 victory over St. John Fisher College at Growney Field in Pittsford, N.Y. The win improves the Bombers record to 8-1 on the season and 4-0 in conference play.
 
The Bombers and Cardinals have met in the Empire 8 Championship Game in four consecutive seasons and Saturday's newest installment in the rivalry had the feel of postseason competition. Both nationally-ranked sides battled back and forth, before Ithaca pulled away late for the team's first win in Pittsford since the 2013 campaign.
 
Fifth-year senior attacker Ally Runyon powered Ithaca's attack, amassing six points on five goals and one assist. Her five goals brought her career total to 181, just three shy of tying the program record held by Tracy Rivas '14. She also moved into fourth place on the program's all-time points list with 212 for her career, passing Jessica Welch '03.
 
Senior attacker Morgan Racicot and freshman Bailey Herr each collected four points in the victory. Racicot scored two goals and added two assists, hitting 60 career helpers. Herr's four-point effort marked a new career high, as she scored a hat-trick with three goals and chipping in one assist.
 
Sophomore attacker Allie Panara posted three points, scoring once and dishing out two helpers. Sophomore Maeve Cambria rounded out the scoring, posting one goal and one assist.
 
Defensively, senior midfielder Olivia Oppenheim forced two caused turnovers and picked up two ground-balls. Junior Molly Long corralled three ground-balls, while senior Elizabeth Sauer and freshman Becky Mehorter finished with one and two ground-balls, respectively. Senior midfielder Morgan Cadwell also added three ground-balls.
 
Junior goalie Kimberly Presuto picked up the win in the Ithaca cage, moving to 6-1 on the season. She stopped a season-high 14 shots in the contest.
 
Trailing 4-3 late into the opening half, the Bombers struck twice in the final 2:39 of play to take a 5-4 lead into halftime. Herr leveled the score at 4-all, taking a feed from Runyon and whipping a shot past Cardinals' net-minder Haley Peets. Runyon capped the scoring with her third goal in the first 30-minutes, as Herr returned the favor, feeding the senior for a goal with 1:34 left.
 
It did not take long for St. John Fisher to tie the contest once the teams returned from the halftime break. Jordan Johnson tied the game at 5-5 39-seconds into the restart. However, Ithaca took control over the next 10 minutes, stringing together a five-goal run to break open the contest.
 
Racicot and Runyon each netted two goals, while Herr scored her second goal of the game during the run. Racicot got the scoring started, answering Johnson's equalizing goal just 49-seconds later. Runyon made it a two-goal advantage 1:20 later, while she also capped the run with a goal off a feed from Runyon to make it 10-5 with 19:19 left.
 
The Cardinals struck for four goals down the stretch, but were unable to close the gap any closer than three. Cambria reestablished the five-goal lead with her second goal of the year with 11:32 to go. Herr added an insurance goal with 5:35 remaining, notching her first career hat-trick.
 
Ithaca returns to action on Tuesday, April 4, when it faces another nationally-ranked side in William Smith College. Opening draw in Geneva, N.Y., is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.