PITTSFORD, N.Y. – St. John Fisher scored twice in the first half and held off a Cortland second-half comeback attempt as the host Cardinals defeated the Red Dragons, 2-1, in a non-league field hockey game under the lights at Growney Stadium.

Fisher (2-2) opened the scoring when Nickole Morgan scored on a penalty corner play 20:40 into the opening half. Kelly Bergamo hit a ball from the top of the circle and Morgan deflected it into the cage. The Cardinals' lead grew to 2-0 less than 10 minutes later when Bergamo took a long pass up the middle of the field by Hannah Cooper and scored on a low shot.

Cortland (3-2) cut its deficit in half with 13:13 left in the game. Gabby Stein (Endwell/Maine-Endwell) sent a crossing pass into the circle from the right side and Anna Branch (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) redirected the ball past the Fisher goalie for her third goal of the season.

Both goalies - Cortland's Kailynne Reinoehl (Lititz, PA/Warwick) and Fisher's Ashley Maynard - finished the game with seven saves. Maynard made two of her saves in the final 11 minutes with the Cardinals holding on to their one-goal lead. Cortland finished with advantages in both shots (18-16) and penalty corners (9-8).

Cortland opens SUNYAC play on Friday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Geneseo.


St. John Fisher 2, Cortland 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):

Cortland: Anna Branch 1-0, Gabby Stein 0-1
St. John Fisher: Kelly Bergamo 1-1, Nickole Morgan 1-0, Hannah Cooper 0-1

Halftime: St. John Fisher 2, Cortland 0
Shots: Cortland 18, St. John Fisher 16
Penalty Corners: Cortland 9, St. John Fisher 8
Saves: Kailynne Reinoehl (Cortland) 7 (2 GA in 70:00); Ashley Maynard (St. John Fisher) 7 (1 GA in 70:00)

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 3-2, St. John Fisher (Cardinals) 2-2