Women's Soccer | 11/4/2019 4:06:27 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – St. John Fisher College, Hartwick College, Nazareth College and Utica College have qualified for the 2019 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship, which takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 9, with all games played at the higher seed. Top-seed St. John Fisher will host No. 4 seed Utica in one semifinal, while No. 2 seed Hartwick hosts third-seeded Nazareth in the second semifinal. Both games will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2019 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday at a time to be determined.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship, which begins on Nov. 16-17.
Participating Teams
No. 1 - St. John Fisher College (4-0-3 E8, 7-6-3 Overall)
No. 2 - Hartwick College (4-0-3 E8, 11-3-3 Overall)
No. 3 - Nazareth College (4-1-2 E8, 9-5-2 Overall)
No. 4 - Utica College (3-3-1 E8, 10-5-1 Overall)
SEMIFINAL #1 – No. 4 Utica at No. 1 St. John Fisher
Top-seed St. John Fisher enters the tournament riding a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2). The Cardinals earned the number-one seed and a share of the 2019 Empire 8 regular season title with a 2-1 win over Nazareth in the regular season finale on Nov. 2. Megan Letta scored the game-winning goal with 3:17 remaining in regulation to snap a 1-1 tie. Letta and Carli Kovarik, the 2018 E8 Rookie of the Year, are tied for the team lead in scoring with five goals apiece. Gabriella D’Ambrosio and Kayla Shutts have split time in goal this season.
Utica clinched a postseason berth with a 4-1 win over Elmira in the regular season final on Nov. 2. Mikayla Blumenstock tallied her second consecutive hat-trick in the win. The Pioneers are 10-5-1 overall and have outscored their opponents, 36-16 this season. Blumenstock leads all Empire 8 players in scoring with 22 goals and 46 points and has at least one goal in 12 different games this season. Kierra Caissey is second on the team in scoring with seven goals and 15 points. Goalkeeper Allison Wagner is 9-5-1 with a 1.06 goals against average and an .867 save percentage. She is Utica’s all-time leader in saves.
Fisher and Utica played to a 2-2 draw on Oct. 19. Letta and Abigail Carr scored first half goals for the Cardinals to build a 2-0 lead before Blumenstock and Caissey tallied second goals to help Utica rally.
SEMIFINAL #1 – No. 3 Nazareth at No. 2 Hartwick
Hartwick clinched a share of the 2019 E8 regular season title after defeating Sage, 1-0 in overtime on Nov. 2. Maggie Rogers scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute to lift the Hawks. Hartwick has allowed just 14 goals in 17 games this season and is 11-3-3 overall. Senior goalkeeper Cassandra Robataille leads the Empire 8 with a 0.74 goals against average and 11 shutouts. Tanner Reed leads the Hawks in scoring with six goals and 14 points, while Gabrielle Kreppein has four goals and 11 points.
Nazareth enters the tournament with a 9-5-2 overall record, having out-scored its opponents, 24-13 this season. McKayla Hughes leads the Golden Flyers in scoring with 14 points on six goals and two assists. Four other players have three goals apiece. In goal, Hannah Miller is 9-4-2 with a 0.80 goals against average and a league-best .881 save percentage.
Hartwick and Nazareth played to a scoreless draw on Oct. 19. The Golden Flyers held a slim 14-12 edge in shots. Robataille made seven saves in net for Hartwick, while Miller stopped six shots for Nazareth.
Nazareth is looking for its 11th Empire 8 Championship and first since 2014, while Hartwick is looking for its second title, having shared the crown in 2017. Fisher and Utica are all looking for their first league titles.
This weekend's championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, follow the Empire 8 Conference on Twitter (@Empire8).
2019 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Schedule
Wednesday, November 6 - Semifinals
#4 Utica at #1 St. John Fisher - 7 p.m. - VIDEO - LIVE STATS
#3 Nazareth at #2 Hartwick - 7 p.m. - VIDEO - LIVE STATS
Saturday, November 9 - Championship Final - TBA
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed
Admission
$6.00 - Adults
$4.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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