Russell Sage Looks to Repeat as 2021 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Champions

Women's Soccer | 8/27/2021 9:37:57 AM

Russell Sage College will look to earn its second Empire 8 Championship in just over six months, as the 2021 season gets underway on Sept. 1, with all nine teams in action. The top five teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action on Tuesday, Nov. 2, semifinal round games on Thursday, Nov. 4 and the championship two days later on Saturday, Nov. 6. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2021 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship.
 
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
   
Abigail Austin, Alfred, Sr., F, Hornell, NY/Hornell – Austin was an All-Empire 8 second team selection for the Saxons in both 2019 and last spring. She has 21 career points.
 
Caleigh Cahoon, Nazareth, Gr., F, Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern – Cahoon was the Spring 2021 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in scoring. Cahoon will look to earn her third straight All-Empire 8 first team selection this fall.
 
Julia Collado, Hartwick, Sr., F, Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon – Collado is Hartwick’s returning leading scorer from 2019, having tallied three goals and an assist that season.
 
Adrianna Cornell, Elmira, Sr., M, Schoharie, NY/Schoharie – Cornell is a two-year starter for the Soaring Eagles, having played 28 games. She is a six-time Empire 8 President’s List selection.
 
Sierra (Neddo) Dibble, Houghton, Sr., F, Beaver Falls, NY/Beaver Falls – Dibble (previously Neddo) was an All-Empire 8 first team selection in 2019 after scoring 11 goals and has 32 points on 14 goals and four assists in 30 career games.
 
Jacinta Kaminski, Utica, Gr., M/F, Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent – Kaminski led the Pioneers in scoring last spring with three goals and seven points in eight games.
 
Hallie Klosterman, Russell Sage, Gr., F, Modena, NY/Walkill – Klosterman was the Spring 2021 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player and was an All-Empire 8 first team selection.
 
Carli Kovarik, St. John Fisher, Sr., F, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool – Kovarik, the 2018 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year is a three-time All-Empire 8 selection, having earned first team accolades in 2018 and second team plaudits in both 2019 and Spring 2021.
 
 
Jessica Pegg, Keuka, Sr., GK, Rochester, NY/Penfield – Pegg has won 26 games in net in her first two seasons for the Wolves. She was the 2018 NEAC Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-NEAC first team selection.  
Nazareth
Nazareth returns nine starters and 26 players from a team that finished 8-0-1 last spring, while advancing to the Empire 8 Semifinals. Spring 2021 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year Caleigh Cahoon and Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Begy are back to lead the way, along with fellow All-Empire 8 first team picks Kristen Prohaska, McKayla Hughes, Mallory Ott and Gabrielle Pighetti. In total, the Golden Flyers have nine former all-conference selections on their roster this season. Spring 2021 Empire 8 Coach of the Year Gail Mann will look to lead the Golden Flyers to their 11th league title in program history.
 
Russell Sage
The Gators of Russell Sage won their first Empire 8 Championship last spring in dramatic fashion and will look to repeat in the fall. Russell Sage returns nine starters and 19 players from the championship team, including Hallie Klosterman. Klosterman scored both Russell Sage goals in the title game, including the game-winning penalty kick in overtime to lift the Gators to Empire 8 Championship. She was the Spring 2021 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player and an All-Empire 8 first team selection. All-Empire 8 selections Natalie Ricci, Angela Gonzalez, Samantha Schmidt and Lydia Malkiewicz also return to help the Gators defend their title this fall.
 
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to contend for its first Empire 8 title in 2021. The Cardinals return four All-Empire 8 selections last season in Alexis Gossage (first team), Carli Kovarik (second team), Jessica Aldred (second team) and Christina Van Allen (second team). In addition, 2019 All-Empire 8 pick Megan Letta returns after missing last spring due to injury. Kovarik is looking to earn her fourth straight All-Empire 8 honor in 2021. She was the 2018 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year.
 
Houghton
Houghton earned a berth in the Empire 8 Tournament last spring and returns 14 players, including seven starters. Sierra (Neddo) Dibble was an All-Empire 8 first team selection in 2019 after scoring 11 goals. She will be counted on to lead the Houghton attack in 2021. Anna Kalivoda, Moriah Steffen and Sarah Potocki will also be counted on to lead the way for the Highlanders this season. Rebekah Block and Rileigh Studley are talented newcomers who may push for a starting role immediately.
 
Utica
The Pioneers return 19 players and six starters from the spring season, while advancing to the Empire 8 Championship game for the third consecutive season, just missing out on their second straight league title. Utica returns three of its top four scorers from last spring in Jacinta Kaminski, Kaela Mochak and Hillaria Hernandez. Mochak scored for Utica in both the Empire 8 Semifinal and Championship games last spring. In addition, talented newcomers Sophia Bell, Noella Burlette and Natalia Gerena will look to make an immediate impact.
 
Alfred
Alfred advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament in the spring and returns all but four players from the squad, including senior Abigail Austin, a two-time All-Empire 8 second team selection. Ten starters return, including senior defender Katline Cartwright and sophomore defender Jacey Palmgreen, who will be counted on to lead the Saxons.
 
Elmira
The Soaring Eagles will look to return to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2021 under first-year head coach Esther Webb. Captains Adrianna Cornell and Kelly Keegan will be counted on to lead the way on and off the field for the Soaring Eagles. Elmira returns 11 players from last spring.
 
Hartwick
The Hawks enjoyed a solid season in 2019, advancing to the Empire 8 Championship game. The Hawks finished 12-4-3 that season, including a 4-0-3 record in league play. Seniors Julia Collado and Gina Farenholz, along with juniors Arianna Alvarez, Hannah Bochniak, Nicole Conway and Aly Fish will be expected to lead the way in 2021. Hartwick will have to replace a host of All-Empire 8 selections, including Courtney Velho and Gabrielle Kreppein.
 
Keuka
Keuka makes its Empire 8 women’s soccer debut in 2021. The Wolves ended their reign in the NEAC by advancing to the league semifinals in 2019, finishing with a 13-5 overall record. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Pegg returns for the Wolves after winning 26 games in net in her first two seasons. She was the 2018 NEAC Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-NEAC first team selection. Seniors Renee Vito and Grace Wolf, along with junior Cassidy Walsh be expected to lead Keuka on and off the field in 2021.
 
Final Spring 2021 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Standings
Nazareth (8-0-1, 5-0 E8)
Russell Sage (5-2, 3-2 E8) – League Champions
St. John Fisher (2-3-1, 2-2-1 E8)
Houghton (3-3-1, 2-2 E8)
Utica (2-3-3, 1-2-1 E8)
Alfred (1-6, 0-5 E8)
 
^ Elmira, Hartwick and Keuka opted out of league play for the 2021 spring season.
 
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 YouTube
 
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