Six Teams to Vie for 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship, Oct. 28-Nov. 4

Top-Seed Nazareth Looks to Win Third Straight E8 title

Women's Soccer | 10/26/2023 10:11:29 AM

Nazareth University, St. John Fisher University, Utica University, Russell Sage College, Houghton University and Alfred University will battle for the 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship, which starts on Saturday, Oct. 28 and wraps up Saturday, Nov. 4, with all games played at the higher seed.
 
No. 3 seed Utica will host No. 6 Alfred and No. 4 seed Houghton will host No. 5 seed Russell Sage in opening round games on Saturday, Oct. 28. The winner of Houghton vs. Russell Sage will travel to face top-seed Nazareth on Wednesday, Nov. 1, while No. 2 seed St. John Fisher is set to host the winner of Utica and Alfred, also on Wednesday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2023 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, Nov. 4 at a time to be determined.
 
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship, which begins on Nov. 11-12.
 
2023 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Participating Teams
No. 1 – Nazareth University (5-0-3 E8, 6-4-6 Overall)
No. 2 – St. John Fisher University (4-0-3 E8, 7-3-5 Overall)
No. 3 – Utica University (3-1-4 E8, 7-5-4 Overall)
No. 4 – Houghton University (4-4-0 E8, 7-8-1 Overall)
No. 5 – Russell Sage College (3-2-3 E8, 8-4-4 Overall)
No. 6 – Alfred University (2-1-5 E8, 4-5-6 Overall)
 
Top-seeded Nazareth finished the regular season with a 5-0-3 mark in league play and is looking to earn its third straight league championship. The Golden Flyers allowed just one goal in league play this season, out-scoring opponents, 13-1. Tatum Overton leads the Golden Flyers in scoring with 13 points on six goals and an assist, while Haley Glassman has seven points on three goals and an assist. Last year’s E8 Tournament Most Valuable Player Grace Lanzetta has a team-high four assists. Nazareth enters the tourney having not allowed a goal against E8 opponents over the last 658:30. Goalkeeper Annika Monfort has a 0.13 goals against average and a .973 save percentage with six solo shutouts and one combined shutout in E8 play this season.
 
St. John Fisher, the No. 2 seed, finished 4-0-4 in Empire 8 play. They are 10-0-7 in league play over the last two years. The Cardinals are Emma Spelman leads the Cardinals in scoring with 14 points on a league high three goals and eight assists this season. She had eight assists in eight league games. Jenn Kirker has a team-best six goals, including five in league play. Riley Grimm and Siobhan McMakin each have four goals and nine points. Eleven different Cardinals have scored at least one goal in 2023. Avery Byrnes has played the majority of time in net this season, recording a 0.79 goals against average and an .861 save percentage with four solo shutouts and two shared clean sheets.
 
Utica, the 2019 Empire 8 Champions and Spring 2021 and 2022 runners-up, are in the E8 Tournament for the sixth straight season and ninth time in program history. Utica has out-scored its opponents, 25-17 this season. Rylee Lamphere leads the Pioneers in scoring with 15 points on five goals and five assists. Jazmyn Gillette has four goals, while Gabriela Daumont has two goals and four assists. Courtney Connolly has appeared in all 16 games in net and has a 1.04 goals against average and an 0.820 save percentage.
 
Houghton is making its third appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament and first since Spring 2021. The Highlanders finished 4-4-0 in E8 play to earn the No. 4 seed. First-year Karryne Mims leads Houghton in scoring this season with 15 points on seven goals and an assist. Her seven goals lead all Empire 8 student-athletes. Natalie Milne has 10 points on four goals and a pair of assists. Defenders Rileigh Studley and Ella Moskov have both played over 1,400 minutes of action this season. Goalkeeper Alliah Fluent has played every had a .789 save percentage in eight league games.
 
Russell Sage is making its fourth appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament. The Gators enter the tournament with an 8-4-4 record, while riding a four-game unbeaten streak. Russell Sage out-scored opponents, 4-2 in eight E8 contests this season. Senior Kennedy Jones leads the Gators and all Empire 8 players in scoring with 16 points on six goals and four assists this season, while sophomore Gianna Viscusi has six goals and an assist for 13 points and Julia Hanlon has five goals. Goalkeeper Olivia Horan has played in 13 games for the Gators and has a 6-3-4 record, 0.64 goals against average and an .837 save percentage with seven shutouts.
 
No. 6 seed Alfred finished 2-1-5 in league play this season. Abby Scanlan leads the team in scoring with 12 points on five goals and two assists this season. Alyssa Smith has added three goals. Goalkeeper Kiani Barnard-Pratt has played in 14 games for the Saxons and has a 1.38 goals against average and an .821 save percentage. She recorded an 0.867 saver percentage in league play.
 
First round opponents Utica and Alfred met earlier in the season in Utica on Sept. 23 with the game ending in a 2-2 draw. Abby Wilson scored a pair of goals for Alfred, including the game-tying goal with 8:26 left. Jazmyn Gillette and Mikayla Kelley scored for Utica. Houghton defeated first round opponent Russell Sage, 1-0 at Burke Field in Houghton on Oct. 7. Natalie Milne scored the lone goal for Houghton early in the first half, while goalkeeper Alliah Fluent made seven saves.
 
Nazareth is looking for its third straight title and 13th league championship overall. Russell Sage is aiming for its second league title in four seasons and Utica is attempting to win its second title in five seasons. Houghton, St. John Fisher and Alfred are looking for their first league championships.
 
This weekend's championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, visit www.empire8.com or follow the Empire 8 Conference on Twitter and Instagram (@Empire8).
 
2023 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Schedule
Saturday, October 28 – First Round 
No. 6 Alfred at No. 3 Utica – 1 p.m.
No. 5 Russell Sage at No. 4 Houghton – 6 p.m.
 
Wednesday, November 1 - Semifinals 
Winner of Russell Sage vs. Houghton at No. 1 Nazareth – TBA
Winner of Alfred vs. Utica at No. 2 St. John Fisher – TBA


Saturday, November 4 - Championship Final
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed – TBA
 
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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