Field Hockey | 10/29/2023 10:24:34 AM
St. John Fisher University, Hartwick University, Houghton University, Utica University, and Russell Sage College will vie for the 2023 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship, which starts on Monday, Oct. 30 and wraps up Saturday, Nov. 4, with all games played at the higher seed.
No. 4 seed Utica will host No. 5 seed Russell Sage in an opening round games on Monday. The winner of Utica vs. Russell Sage will travel to face top-seed St. John Fisher on Thursday, Nov. 2, while No. 2 seed Hartwick is set to host No. 3 Houghton, also on Thursday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2023 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday at the highest remaining seed.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Tournament, which begins on Nov. 8.
2023 E8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Participating Teams
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (7-0 E8, 10-7 Overall)
No. 2 – Hartwick College (6-1 E8, 10-5 Overall)
No. 3 – Houghton University (5-2 E8, 11-5 Overall)
No. 4 – Utica University (4-3 E8, 6-10 Overall)
No. 5 – Russell Sage College (3-4 E8, 6-9 Overall)
Top-seed St. John Fisher enters the tournament with a perfect 7-0 mark in Empire 8 play this season, out-scoring opponents, 33-8 in those games. The Cardinals, who were back-to-back league champions in Spring 2021 and the traditional 2021 season, are looking for their fourth league title. St. John Fisher has five players with at least 17 points. Audrey Grieb leads the Cardinals in scoring with 30 points on 10 goals and 10 assists. She tallied six goals, 10 assists and 22 points in seven E8 games. Sam Choate has 11 goals and 24 points, while Emma Cooper leads St. John Fisher with 12 assists and has added five goals for 22 points. Rileigh Luste has a team-high six defensive saves. In net, Sophia Trozzi has a 1.40 goals against average and an .829 save percentage in six league games this season.
No. 2 seed Hartwick enters the E8 Tournament with a 10-5 overall mark and finished 6-1 in league play during the season, out-scoring its E8 opponents, 34-4. The defending Empire 8 Champion Hawks have out-scored opponents, 57-27 this season and boast six different players with at least 13 points. Senior Julie Ruzzi leads the team in scoring and is among the Empire 8 leaders with 15 goals and 38 points, while newcomer Danielle Hand is right behind with 24 points on 10 goals and four assists. Holly Calore and Ashley Tricario have added nine and seven goals, respectively. Goalkeeper Ashley Luppens played in all 15 games this season. She has a sparkling 0.63 goals against average in league play. Overall, she has been involved in five Hartwick shutouts (three solo, two combined) in 2023.
Houghton, the number three seed, advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game for the first time in program history in 2022 and is enjoying another excellent season with an 11-5 overall record. The Highlanders have out-scored their opponents, 66-21 this season. Junior Jace Hunzinger became the Empire 8’s all-time career assist leader earlier in the season. She has eight goals, a league-high 21 assists and 37 points this season. Bekah Davie is tied for second in the Empire 8 with 17 goals and has 36 points. Deborah Cross has 30 points on 12 goals and six assists, while Adria Hartzler has added 25 points. Goalkeeper Annika Galen has played in 15 games and has a 1.33 goals against average, 59 saves and five solo shutouts.
Fourth-seeded Utica finished 4-3 overall in league play. Senior Alyssa Pisano leads the Pioneers in scoring with 13 goals and 28 points, Shannon Jedreicich and Mackenzie Mix have four goals apiece. Pisano had six goals and 14 points in E8 play. Goalkeeper Hannah Young has emerged as the starting goalkeeper and went 4-2 with a 1.49 goals against average in league play this season. Senior defender Madison Ranalli has broken her own Empire 8 single-season record with 17 defensive saves in 2023.
Russell Sage earned its first Empire 8 Tournament berth with wins in three of its last four league games. The Gators have enjoyed their best season to date in program history and have a strong duo of graduate students Amy Stevens and Alyssa Fitzgerald. Stevens leads all Empire 8 student-athletes in scoring with 18 goals and 44 points, while Fitzgerald is tied for second in the league with 17 goals. Stevens and Fitzgerald both are tied for the E8 lead with 11 goals in league play. First-year Cheyanne Zobel has added four goals, 10 assists and 18 points. Goalkeeper Jaia Caron has made 125 saves in 15 games and is second in the league with a .776 save percentage to go along with three shutouts.
First round opponents Utica and Russell Sage met at Casamento Field on Oct. 11, with Utica pulling earning a 2-1 win on a late goal by Pisano. Semifinal opponents Hartwick and Houghton faced-off at Wright Stadium on Oct. 14, with Hartwick coming out on top, 3-1, thanks to two first quarter goals from Calore. St. John Fisher defeated potential semifinal opponents Utica, 6-1, behind four goals from Grieb on Oct. 7 and hung on to beat Russell Sage, 3-2 on Sept. 23.
Hartwick is attempting to win its second straight title and sixth overall. Utica is looking for its fifth Empire 8 Championship, while St. John Fisher is looking for its fourth title since 2016 and third in the last four years. Houghton and Russell Sage are both attempting to win its first league crown.
2023 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Schedule
Monday, October 30 – First Round - at Higher Seed
No. 5 Russell Sage at No. 4. Utica – 4 p.m.
Thursday, November 2 - Semifinals - at Higher Seed
No. 3 Houghton at No. 2 Hartwick – 4 p.m.
Winner of Utica vs. Russell Sage at No. 1. St. John Fisher – 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 4 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2 at Highest Remaining Seed - TBA
Admission
$6.00 - Adults
$4.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12
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).
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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