Women's Soccer | 11/30/2023 9:53:46 AM
Seven Empire 8 women's soccer standouts were named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Division III Region III team. Grace Palczewski of Nazareth University and the St. John Fisher University duo of Kayla Rhude and Emma Spelman were second team selectons. Tatum Overton of Nazareth and the Russell Sage College trio of Courtney Bush, Kennedy Jones and Marissa Key garnered third team accolades.
All-Americans will be announced in early December.
Palczewski, a junior defender from Montgomery, NY, was named the 2023 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and garnered All-E8 furst team accolades. She led a stout Nazareth defense that allowed just one goals in eight Empire 8 regular season games. Including the postseason, the Golden Flyers did not allow a goal over their final nine games against conference opponents.
Rhude, a senior midfielder from Ilion, NY, garnered All-Empire 8 first team accolades after playing and starting in all 17 games for the Cardinals. She scored two goals, both coming in a 5-2 victory over Keuka College and was a stalwart on both ends of the field.
Spelman, a junior forward from Hilton, NY, earned All-E8 first team accolades after racking up a team-leading 15 points including a conference-leading nine assists - four more than the second-place athlete. She also scored three goals, tied for fourth among the Cardinals.
Overton, a sophomore forward from Watertown, NY, helped lead the Golden Flyers to their 13th Empire 8 Championship in 2023. Overton led all Empire 8 student-athletes in scoring with 10 goals and 21 points this season. She saved her best for the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, scoring four goals in the two games to earn Tournament Most Valuable Player honors,
Key, a native of Monroe, NY, provided the Gators with strong offensive and defensive play. She totaled 13 points on four goals and five assists. Key, a senior midfielder, tied for second in the conference with five assists, and ranked sixth with 13 points to earn All-E8 first team accolades.
Bush, a sophomore defender who hails from Schenectady, NY, earned All-Empire 8 first team accolades in 2023. Bush led a Russell Sage defense that registered six shutouts and allowed just two goals in Empire 8 regular season play during the season. She added two goals and an assist and won E8 Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions.
Jones, a native of Albany, NY was voted second-team All-Empire 8 for the second-straight season. The senior forward closed her season by placing second in the E8 in scoring with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. She scored two goals in the Empire 8 First Round win at Houghton University.
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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