Field Hockey | 3/16/2021 2:19:46 PM
Hartwick College will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions, as the 2021 spring season gets underway on March 18. The league’s postseason format has changed for spring 2021, as all five competing teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place from April 21-25.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on
Empire 8 TV.
Team Capsules (Sorted by 2019 Standings)
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher went unbeaten in 2019 Empire 8 regular season play, while leading the conference in in numerous categories including goals (69), goals per game (3.45), and shots (416), while allowing just 26 goals. St. John Fisher will have to replace four All-Empire 8 selections, including 2019 Player of the Year Lindsay Scott, but returns senior All-Region pick Bre Socker, who tallied program-record totals of 28 goals and 62 points in 2019. Socker, a three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection, enters her senior season 18 goals and 30 points shy of school records in both categories. Senior midfielder Alyssa Andres, a 2019 All-E8 first team pick and honorable mention selection Gianna Palma will also be counted on to play key roles in 2021. Palma has 17 goals and 14 assists in her first two seasons at Fisher.
Utica
The Pioneers return their top three scorers from a team that finished 6-1 in league play and advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals in 2019. Seniors Sydney Scaccia and Sabrina Whitehouse, along with junior Madeline Krecidlo combined for 23 goals and 15 assists a season ago. Scaccia and Whitehouse, who tied for the team lead with 24 points apiece, both earned 2019 All-Empire 8 second team honors. Senior midfielder Jenny Robbins and senior defender Katherine LeRoy will lead the defensive unit, along with junior goalkeeper Megan Chamberlain. Chamberlain appeared in all 19 games for the Pioneers in 2019.
Hartwick
The Hawks enter the spring season as the defending Empire 8 Champions after winning the 2019 league title. Hartwick, who finished 13-7 last season, returns 2019 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Sydney Gagnon and 2019 All-Empire 8 first team goalkeeper Allyson Osborne. Gagnon tallied 33 points on 14 goals and five assists last season. Six of her 14 tallies were game-winners. Osborne appeared in all 20 games last season and recorded a 1.37 goals against average and an .833 save percentage. Senior captain Tegan Robinson is set to take on an even more prominent role in the Hawks midfield this season. Robinson has not missed a game in her Hartwick career, while junior Rebecca Peakes will take on a greater offensive role in 2021.
Nazareth
Nazareth advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game in 2019 and will look to claim the 2021 Empire 8 title. Nazareth will have to replace 2019 leading scorer Jennifer Hilts, but returns plenty of firepower up front in Caroline Desautels, Bailey Selman, Natalie L’Hommedieu and Lydia Dewart, who combined for 29 goals and 73 points in 2019. In addition, senior back Abbey Szumloz and sophomore midfielder Morgan Hasty will be counted on to lead the defense in 2021. Szumloz was a 2019 All-Empire 8 second team pick. Junior goalkeeper Amanda Chuttey appeared in all 21 games during her first full season as starter in 2019 and earned All-Empire 8 honorable mention accolades after recording a 1.93 goals against average and an .816 save percentage.
Houghton
Houghton enjoyed a solid 2019 season, just missing out on a playoff berth via tiebreaker. The Highlanders return plenty of talent, including senior forward Caitlin Jennings, a 2017 and 2019 All-Empire 8 first team selection and classmate Hannah Daniels, a 2018 and 2019 All-Empire 8 second team pick, who will lead the defensive unit. Jennings has 29 goals and 11 assists in her first three seasons for Houghton. Sophomore forward Peyton Bentley is back after tallying 13 points on six goals and an assist in her rookie season.
^ Elmira, Keuka, Sage and Washington & Jefferson have opted out of league play for the 2021 spring season.
Final 2019 Empire 8 Field Hockey Standings
St. John Fisher (15-5, 7-0 E8)
Utica (8-11, 6-1 E8)
Hartwick (13-7, 5-2 E8) – League Champions
Nazareth (9-12, 3-4 E8)
Houghton (6-11, 3-4 E8)
Washington & Jefferson (8-8, 3-4 E8)
Sage (8-11, 1-6 E8)
Elmira (6-10, 0-7 E8)
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 and
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