Fisher could not battle back from a 2-0 deficit in the first 25 minutes against neighboring rival and host Nazareth,
falling 2-1 on Friday afternoon and ending the Cardinals' hope for an Empire 8 title.
Just 24 minutes into play, Nazareth held a two-goal lead. Alex Manchev started off the scoring with his eighth of the season 15 minutes into play, taking the ball straight to the net and colliding with senior goaltender
Adam Durst, who had to be taken out of the game following the goal.
Robert Weigand took over in between the pipes for Fisher. Just seven minutes later, Nazareth’s Andrew Alaimo followed up the first goal with his sixth of the season off a pass from Chris Lofren.
Weigand fended off a cluster in front of the goal and an opportunity that Nazareth couldn’t capitalize on, before
Luke Lennox was able to put the Cardinals on the board.
Over ten minutes and some chippy play later, Lennox came up the right side of the net and crossed the ball to
Bryan Canty, who slid up and knocked it in for Fisher’s first tally.
The Cardinals went into the half trailing by one, and came out with a vengeance. A spat between
Michael Rooney and Nazareth’s Chris Lofgren ended with Nazareth’s first yellow card.
Weigand saved the game from a larger deficit with 24 minutes left in play when he deflected a direct shot over the net.
The tension continued to increase as Fisher looked to tie the game up and the Golden Flyers looked for a security goal. A yellow card to
Sean Fishel came with seven minutes left to play. The teams traded possession for the remainder of the second half, neither being able to make good on any attempts.
Weigand tallied four saves in the loss. Nazareth's Ryan Platt was forced to make seven saves.
Nazareth will travel to Hoboken, N.J., to take on Stevens in the Empire 8 Championship game on Sunday. Fisher will look to a chance at the ECAC's as their hopes for an Empire 8 title diminished.