ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Washington & Jefferson field hockey team defeated Hartwick, 4-0, in the Empire 8 semifinals on Friday night, Nov. 4.

With the win, the Presidents improve to 15-3 overall and earn their first trip to the E8 Championship game since 2011.

Rachel Buyan (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) scored just four minutes into the second half on an assist from Kelly Knisel (Weatogue, Conn./Simsbury) to give the Presidents a 1-0 lead after both teams played a scoreless first half. In the 54th minute, Knisel got on the board off an assist from Amanda Steffey (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford), for her 11th goal of the season.

Just 75 seconds later, Buyan scored again to extend the W&J lead to 3-0 with her team-leading 14th goal of the season coming off an assist from Lauren Brown (Novi, Mich./Novi). Steffey rounded out the scoring in the game with her 13th goal of the season in the 61st minute with the assist coming from Knisel.

Karlie Baran (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) (15-3) got the win in net for the Presidents, needing to make three saves to record her eighth shutout of the season. Shannon Carter (12-4) took the loss in net for the Hawks, making three saves in 60:07 of action, while Jilian Sabatino played the rest of the game.

As a team, the Presidents held advantages in total shots, 12-4, and shots on goal, 7-3.

The Presidents will face St. John Fisher in the E8 Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Rochester, N.Y. at 4 p.m.