Field Hockey | 11/8/2019 9:02:26 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – Third-seed Hartwick College and No. 4 seed Nazareth College will square off in the 2019 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship from Growney Stadium on the campus of St. John Fisher at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9. The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Tournament, which begins on Nov. 15-16.
Hartwick earned a berth into the Empire 8 Championship by defeated No. 2 seed Utica, 3-2 on Friday afternoon. The Hawks spotted Utica a 1-0 lead before rattling off three consecutive goals to take control. Sydney Gagnon and Allyson Quirk tallied a goal and an assist apiece, while Brooke Singer also scored. Josie Sgarlata and Rick Haab tallied for the Pioneers. Both teams fired 13 shots.
The Hawks have out-scored opponents, 52-23 this season and boast six different players with at least 10 points. Gagnon leads the team in scoring with 14 goals and 33 points, while Singer is second on the team with eight goals and 18 points. Goalkeeper Allyson Osborne, a junior, has played in all 18 games this season and is 12-6 with a 1.25 goals against average, six shutouts and an .836 save percentage.
Nazareth rallied to knock off top-seeded St. John Fisher, 2-1 in double overtime in the second semifinal Friday. Emilee Rosenberg scored with just 3:48 left in regulation to tie the game and Jennifer Hilts won it with 1:52 remaining in the second overtime. Golden Flyers goalkeeper Amanda Chuttey was sensational in net, stopping 10 shots, as Fisher fired the 15 shots of the game and held a 17-7 edge overall. Gianna Palma scored for Fisher to give them a 1-0 lead in the third quarter.
Nazareth has out-scored opponents, 59-38 this season. Hilts leads the team and is third in the Empire 8 with 15 goals, while adding five assists for 35 points. She is among Nazareth’s all-time leading scorers. The Golden Flyers also boast a pair of high-scoring newcomers in Caroline Desautels and Bailey Selman, who each have 10 goals. Chuttey has played in all 20 games this season and has a 1.98 goals against average and an .814 save percentage. She also leads the Empire 8 with 168 saves.
Hartwick and Nazareth met on Oct. 19, with the Hawks rallying to come away with a 2-1 win on the road. Gagnon scored with 2:06 left in regulation to snap a 1-1 tie, while Katie Meuse also scored and added an assist. Osborne made nine saves in the win. Lydia Dewart scored a first quarter goal for Nazareth, while Chuttey stopped 10 shots, Both teams fired 14 shots.
Hartwick is attempting to win its fourth title and first since 2005. Nazareth is trying to win its second league championship, having also won in 2007.
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 Tennis Championship Schedule
Friday, November 8 - Semifinals - at St. John Fisher
No. 3 Hartwick 3, No. 2 Utica 2
No. 4 Nazareth 2, No. 1 St. John Fisher 1 (2OT)
Saturday, November 9 - Championship Final (at St. John Fisher)
No. 3 Hartwick vs. No. 4 Nazareth – 1 p.m.
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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