Field Hockey | 11/29/2022 9:54:09 AM
Seven student-athletes from the Empire 8 were named to the 2022 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III Region III teams.
Senior Sydney Gagnon and junior Julie Ruzzi of Hartwick College were first team selections. Graduate student Gianna Palma of St. John Fisher University, junior Libby Fortin of Hartwick and sophomores Emma Cooper of St. John Fisher, Jace Hunzinger of Houghton University and Mackenzie Mix of Utica University garnered second team accolades. Six of the seven student-athletes honored were also 2022 All-Empire 8 first team selections.
All seven student-athletes are eligible for All-America honors, which will be announced on Tuesday, December 13. Gagnon earned her third All-Region accolade, while Ruzzi is a repeat selection. Cooper, Fortin, Hunzinger, Mix and Palma garnered their first All-Region honor.
Gagnon, a native of Chestertown, NY, was named the 2022 Empire 8 Player of the Year and garnered her fourth straight All-E8 first team honor. She led Hartwick to the Empire 8 Championship and finished the season as the league’s leading scorer with 18 goals, six assists and 42 points in 18 games. Gagnon is a two-time E8 Player of the Week this season and scored a career-high four goals in a win over Houghton that clinched the E8 regular season title on Oct. 22. Gagnon, who was also the 2019 E8 Rookie of the Year, has 43 career goals, 15 assists and 101 points in 60 games.
Ruzzi, a native of High Falls, NY, was important in the midfield to Hartwick's defensive effort, which led the Empire 8, as well as to their offensive attack. She led the Hawks and was second in the league with 14 assists, while adding three goals for 20 points. The 14 assists were tied for fifth in all of Division III. Her strong play helped fuel Hartwick’s strong transition game en route to leading the league with 80 goals scored in 19 games.
Palma, a native of Brighton, NY, tallied seven goals and eight assists for 22 points from the midfield this season for the Cardinals. A five-year veteran and three-time All-E8 selection, Palma cracked the 100-career point plateau this season and finished her career with 102 points on 35 goals and 32 assists in 85 games,
Fortin, the 2022 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year, enjoyed excellent junior season for the Hawks, leading a defense that allowed just nine goals in 11 games against Empire 8 foes this season. A native of State College, PA, Fortin made two defensive saves and chipped in offensively with eight points on three goals and two assists. Hartwick recorded five shutouts in 2022 and had 11 games allowing one goal or less.
Cooper enjoyed a strong season for the Cardinals, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points. She tallied three two-goal games, all in league play. A native of Eden, NY, Cooper has 14 goals and 38 points in 38 career games for the Cardinals.
Hunzinger helped lead Houghton to a 14-6 overall record, its first two Empire 8 postseason victories and a spot in the league championship game this season. She led the Empire 8 and was tied for the national lead in assists with 0.90 per contest and was second overall with 18. She also added seven goals for a 32-point season. In two seasons, Hunzinger has 13 goals and 30 assists for 56 points in 36 career contests.
Mix, who was also named to the Empire 8 All-Tournament Team, enjoyed a fantastic sophomore year with the Pioneers. Over 18 games, the midfielder recorded 26 points on 11 goals and four assists. The Camden, NY native posted a .282 shot percentage and a .615 shot on goal percentage while also going 2-for-3 on penalty strokes as well as making two defensive saves. A multi-sport student-athlete, Mix also excels as a sprinter on the track and field team.
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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