Nazareth Stuns No. 9 St. John Fisher, 12–7, Snaps 14-Game Skid in Statement Empire 8 Win

Nazareth entered Saturday with history working against them.

Fourteen straight losses to St. John Fisher. A conference powerhouse on the other sideline. A top-10 opponent with control of the Empire 8.

None of it mattered.

Behind a dominant first quarter and a complete, four-quarter performance, Nazareth took down No. 9 St. John Fisher 12–7, snapping the losing streak and delivering one of the biggest upsets in the conference this season.

From the opening faceoff, the Golden Flyers dictated the game. Nazareth wasted no time seizing momentum, exploding out to a 5–0 lead in the first quarter. The early surge forced Fisher into unfamiliar territory chasing the game  and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

Nazareth’s offense wasn’t reliant on one player to carry the load. Instead, it was a balanced offense that kept Fisher’s defense on its heels all game long. Kyle Rosenberger and William O’Neill each led the way with three goals, while Matthew Farrington added a pair. In total, seven different players found the back of the net, a reflection of how well the Golden Flyers moved the ball and created opportunities across the field.

While the offense grabbed headlines, Nazareth’s control of the possession game played an equally important role. The Golden Flyers held a clear edge at the faceoff stripe, won the ground ball battle, and consistently generated quality looks, finishing with a significant advantage in shots on goal. Those extra possessions added up, allowing Nazareth to maintain pressure and limit Fisher’s chances to mount a comeback.

St. John Fisher showed signs of life as the game wore on, cutting into the deficit and attempting to swing momentum back in its favor. But each time the Cardinals threatened, Nazareth had an answer.

In the fourth quarter, with Fisher looking to make a final push, Nazareth delivered the decisive blows. A key goal from George Monahan steadied things, followed by a momentum-shifting man-down goal from O’Neill that effectively halted any comeback hopes. Rosenberger later added another insurance goal to seal the result.

Defensively, Nazareth stayed disciplined throughout, limiting Fisher’s scoring opportunities and making key stops in critical moments. It was a composed, confident effort on both ends of the field the kind of performance that reflects a team playing with belief.

The win carries significant weight beyond just the final score. Nazareth not only ends a lengthy skid against one of the conference’s premier programs, but also reasserts itself in the Empire 8 race. Taking down a ranked opponent in this fashion sends a clear message: the Golden Flyers are a factor down the stretch.

Final
Nazareth 12
No. 9 St. John Fisher 7

Nazareth set the tone early, dictated possession, and answered every run. If they carry this momentum forward, the Empire 8 race just got a lot more interesting.

Christopher Newport Rides Record-Setting Bellinger Performance to 12–9 Upset Over No. 6 Salisbury

In a matchup that felt more like May than mid-April, No. 4 Christopher Newport delivered one of the biggest wins of the DeeThreeLax season, knocking off No. 6 Salisbury 12–9 behind a historic performance in goal and a composed second-half surge.

For long stretches, the game followed a familiar script for Salisbury. The Sea Gulls generated offense in waves, pushing tempo and creating consistent pressure with a high volume of shots. By the final whistle, Salisbury had piled up 48 shots, including 35 on goal, numbers that would typically translate into a comfortable win.

But Saturday was anything but typical.

Standing in the way was Christopher Newport goalkeeper Mason Bellinger, who turned in one of the most dominant performances of the season. Bellinger finished with 26 saves, repeatedly denying point-blank opportunities and frustrating Salisbury’s offense throughout the afternoon. His effort not only kept CNU within striking distance early, but ultimately swung the game in the Captains’ favor.

The opening half was tightly contested, with both teams trading goals and momentum. Salisbury’s ability to control possession was evident, as the Sea Gulls won the ground ball battle and found success at the faceoff stripe. Despite those advantages, they were unable to build separation, largely due to Bellinger’s presence in the cage and CNU’s efficiency on the offensive end.

At halftime, the game remained within a goal, setting the stage for a decisive second half.

That turning point came in the third quarter.

Christopher Newport began to find rhythm offensively, capitalizing on key possessions and converting high-quality chances. A series of timely goals allowed the Captains to stretch a one-goal margin into a multi-goal lead, forcing Salisbury to play from behind for the first time all afternoon. While the Sea Gulls continued to generate looks, their inability to solve Bellinger proved costly.

Salisbury made one final push in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit and attempting to regain momentum. But each surge was met with another save, another stop, another moment from Bellinger that halted the comeback before it could fully materialize.

With the defense holding firm, Christopher Newport added late insurance goals to close out the game and secure the 12–9 victory.

This was a huge win for CNU and will help build momentum as they head into the CLC tournament. These two teams will likely meet again in a few weeks in the CLC tournament in a game that will be even more important then Saturdays game.

Oberlin Holds Off Denison Rally, Secures 13–12 Upset in Historic NCAC Showdown

In a game defined by momentum swings and late-game tension, Oberlin delivered a statement performance on Saturday, defeating Denison 13–12 in a dramatic North Coast Athletic Conference battle.

For the Yeomen, the victory marks a significant moment for the program, knocking off one of the conference’s perennial contenders and doing so in a fashion that showcased both offensive firepower and late-game resilience.

Oberlin set the tone early, coming out with pace and purpose on the offensive end. After a brief back-and-forth opening, the Yeomen began to find rhythm, stringing together possessions and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Their efficiency in settled offense, combined with timely execution in transition, allowed them to gradually create separation.

By halftime, Oberlin had built a 10–5 advantage, controlling both tempo and momentum. The offensive production was spread across multiple contributors, with Jacob Starcke leading the charge and consistently finding space against the Denison defense. Supported by key efforts from teammates like Nicholas Cuda and Cooper Zancosky, the Yeomen’s balanced offense made it difficult for Denison to key in on any one option.

Despite the early deficit, Denison responded in the second half with the urgency expected from a top conference program.

The Big Red began to chip away at the lead in the third quarter, finding success through increased offensive pressure and a more aggressive approach in transition. A multi-goal run quickly shifted the feel of the game, cutting what had been a comfortable Oberlin margin down to a single possession. Jonah Frank played a pivotal role in the surge, leading a stretch that brought Denison firmly back into contention.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, the pace intensified. Denison continued to press, generating scoring chances and testing Oberlin’s defense with each possession. What had once been a five-goal gap was now a tightly contested game, with momentum leaning toward the visitors.

Yet Oberlin never lost control of the moment.

Each time Denison threatened to equalize, the Yeomen found a response whether through a timely defensive stop, a critical ground ball, or a composed offensive possession that slowed the pace and preserved their lead. In the closing minutes, Oberlin’s defense held firm under pressure, preventing the equalizer and allowing the final seconds to tick away.

When the final whistle sounded, Oberlin had secured the 13–12 victory, completing one of its most significant wins in recent program history.

The result carries weight beyond a single game. With the regular season nearing its conclusion, the win strengthens Oberlin’s position within the NCAC and signals its ability to compete with and defeat the conference’s top teams. For Denison, the loss serves as a reminder of the thin margins in high-level conference play, where even a strong second-half push can fall just short.

In a game that tested both teams across all four quarters, Oberlin’s early execution and late composure ultimately proved to be the difference.