Nazareth Looks to Garner Fourth Straight Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship in 2024

Women's Soccer | 8/27/2024 9:58:08 AM

Nazareth University will look make it four straight Empire 8 Championships, as the 2024 season gets underway on Aug. 30. League play begins on Sept. 14. The Empire 8 will have a new look in 2024 with SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Poly joining, giving the league 12 teams.

In addition, the Empire 8 postseason format has expanded, as the top eight teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with quarterfinal action on Saturday, Nov. 2, semifinal round games on Wednesday, Nov. 6, and the championship three days on later Saturday, Nov. 9. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship.
 
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.  
Piper Andrews, Elmira, Jr., F, Fergus Falls, MN/Fergus Falls – Andrews, who is also a member of the nationally-ranked Elmira women’s ice hockey team, scored three goals for the Soaring Eagles in 2023 and will be counted on to lead the way offensively this season.
 
Courtney Bush, Russell Sage, Jr., D, Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen – Bush is a two-time All-Empire 8 selection in her first two collegiate seasons, earning first team honors in 2023 and second team accolades in 2022. 
 
Lindsey Clar, Geneseo, Gr., M, Scottsville, NY/Wheatland-Chili – Clar earned All-SUNYAC first team accolades in 2023 and will expect to lead the Knights this season.
 
Jaylah Cossin, SUNY Brockport, Gr., F/M, Silver Creek, NY/Silver Creek – Cossin earned All-SUNYAC second team and United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team accolades in 2023 after scoring 11 goals and adding seven assists for 29 points. Four of her 11 tallies were game-winners.
 
Rylee Lamphere, Utica, Jr., M, Little Falls, NY/Dolgeville – Lamphere earned All-Empire 8 second team honors in 2023 after tallying 15 points on five goals and five assists.
 
Jenna Mierek, Hartwick, Jr., D, Prospect, CT/Woodland Regional – Mierek earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades last season. She scored three goals as a defender and was one of three Hawks to start all 15 games.
 
Natalie Milne, Houghton, Sr., F, Buffalo, NY/City Honors – Milne a repeat E8 Player to Watch, was an All-Empire 8 second team selection in 2023 after tallying 10 points on four goals and two assists. She was also an All-E8 third team pick in 2022.
 
Tatum Overton, Nazareth, Jr., F, Watertown, NY/Watertown – Overton, the 2022 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, followed that up last season by earning 2023 E8 Offensive Player of the Year, 2023 Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player and United Soccer Coaches All-Region accolades.
 
Kate Rachwal, St. John Fisher, Sr., M, East Aurora, NY/East Aurora – Rachwal scored three goals last season, including the game-winner in the 90th minute to send the Cardinals to the E8 title game. She was named to the 2023 Empire 8 Championship All-Tournament Team.
 
Abby Scanlan, Alfred, Jr., F, Albion, NY/Charles D’Amico – Scanlan earned All-Empire 8 first team honors last season after recording five goals and 12 points. She was also an All-E8 third team pick in 2022.
 
Hannah Shipley, SUNY Poly, Sr., F, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili – Shipley earned All-North Atlantic Conference first team accolades in 2023 after scoring eight goals and adding four assists. She enters the season with 45 career points (17 goals, 11 assists) in 45 games.
 
Peyton Steates, Keuka, Jr., D, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro – Steates played a team-high 1,344 of 1,350 minutes last season on the back end and will be expected to be a team leader for the Wolves in 2024.
   
Nazareth
Nazareth will look to win its fourth straight E8 title and 14th overall in program history in 2024. Last season, the Golden Flyers won the E8 regular season crown, tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament. Nazareth returns 23 players and nine starters from 2023, including Empire 8 Player of the Year and E8 Tournament Most Valuable Player Tatum Overton, in addition to senior defender Grace Palczewski, the 2023 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and senior goalkeeper Annika Monfort, a two-time Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year. In addition, All-E8 third team selection Lauren Obey returns to help lead the way. Six-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year Gail Mann has a career record of 358-161-75 (.666 winning percentage) and ranks among the winningest active coaches in Division III. She has a record of 145-23-18 (.828) in conference games.
 
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to contend for its first Empire 8 title in 2024 and enter the season riding a 20-game unbeaten streak (12-0-8) in regular season league play dating back to 2021. The Cardinals have played in two of the last three E8 Championship matches and return 23 players, eight starters and three All-Empire 8 selections last season in Emma Spelman (first team), Ryann Dauksza (second team), Jackie Gervais (second team). Spelman, the 2021 E8 Rookie of the Year, scored three goals and led the conference with nine assists last season to earn her thirds straight All-E8 accolade. Dauksza is a two-time All-E8 selections, while senior Riley Grimm returns after tallying four goals and nine points last season, all in league play.
 
Utica
The Pioneers return 24 players and seven starters from last season’s team that went 3-1-4 in league play and advanced to opening round of the Empire 8 Tournament in 2023. Junior midfielder Rylee Lamphere returns after earning All-Empire 8 second team honors in 2023 after tallying 15 points on five goals and five assists. Upperclassmen Cora Kraft, Kayla Giovingo and Samantha Kogut also return to lead the way for the Pioneers. Kraft, a defender, earned All-E8 third team honors last season in her collegiate debut. Head coach Brooke Barbuto has led the Pioneers to three E8 Championship match appearances (2019 Empire 8 Champion) and five postseason berths in five seasons with Utica.
 
Houghton
Houghton will look to take the next step forward after earning the No. 4 seed in the Empire 8 Tournament in 2023. The Highlanders return 17 players and eight starters from last season’s team that won seven contests, including senior midfielder Natalie Milne, an All-Empire 8 second team selection and Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Karryne Mims. Mims, who also garnered All-E8 third team honors, was second in the league with nine goals and third with 19 points. Senior defender Rileigh Studley, an All-E8 third team selection and junior midfielder Morgan Applegate will also be counted on to lead the way for the Highlanders this season.
 
Russell Sage
Russell Sage College advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals last season, finishing with a 9-5-4 overall record. The Gators return 15 players, including eight starters from 2023, including All-Empire 8 first team selections Marissa Key and Courtney Bush in addition to fellow veteran standouts Amelia Geesler and Olivia Horan. Head coach Garrett Cobb has brought in a strong group of newcomers, including forward Sofia Sanso.
 
Alfred
Alfred will look to earn its fifth straight Empire 8 postseason berth in 2024. The Saxons recorded seven clean sheets last season and advanced to Empire 8 Semifinals. Alfred returns 22 players and nine starters from last season, including former All-E8 selections junior goalkeeper Kiani Barnard-Pratt, senior midfielder Claire Squicciarini, senior midfielder Nyah Solly, Scanlan, senior midfielder Alyssa Smith and senior forward Kayla Silverstein.
 
Hartwick
The Hawks will look to get back to the postseason in 2024 after having its string of six straight postseason appearances snapped. Hartwick returns 17 players, including seven starters from last season’s team that played to five draws in league play. Senior midfielders Grace Byrne and Kayla Grassi, along with junior defender Jenna Mierek will be counted on to lead the way in 2024. Mierek was an All-E8 third team selection in 2023. Head coach Brian Knapp, who has led the Hawks to six straight Empire 8 Tournament appearances, has brought in a strong group of newcomers, including Lily Dempsey, Addyson Galuski, and Olivia Farnham.
 
Keuka
Keuka is primed to earn its first E8 postseason berth in its fourth season in the conference in 2024. The Wolves return 18 players from last season’s team, including senior midfielder Lindsey Garbacz along with senior and juniors Parker Leahy and Peyton Steates, who will be counted to lead Keuka in 2024. Lahey led the team in scoring last season. Samantha Bates and Lydia Lane lead a strong group of newcomers who will vie for immediate playing time.
 
Elmira
The Soaring Eagles return 20 players, including eight starters from last season’s team. Senior goalkeeper Neveah Winston returns to lead the defensive unit. She placed second in the league with 105 saves and 6.88 saves per game in 2023 and enters the 2024 season with 390 for her career. Midfielders Rachel Bortnick and Tierney Krawczyk along with forwards Sophia Tarntino and Piper Andrews will help lead the way on the field. Krawczyk led Elmira with nine points last season. Head coach Bill Kelly has brought in a strong group of newcomers as the Soaring Eagles Campus Field was renovated over the summer to become an all-turf surface.
 
SUNY Brockport
SUNY Brockport comes into its first season in the Empire 8 having advanced to the SUNYAC Championship match in 2023, while finishing with an impressive 12-3-5 record. The Golden Eagles did not allow a goal in four non-league matches against Empire 8 opponents last season and recorded 13 clean sheets overall. Brockport out-scored opponents 41-11 for head coach Mike Idland, who enters his ninth season at the college. Graduate student Jaylah Cossin is back after earning All-SUNYAC second team and United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team accolades in 2023 after scoring 11 goals and adding seven assists for 29 points. Junior goalkeeper Madeline McCrosson, senior midfielder Katie Hotaling and the standout duo of junior defenders Megan Gerber and Lyndsey Miller will be counted on to lead the way for the Golden Eagles in 2024.
 
SUNY Geneseo
The Knights begin their first Empire 8 season in 2024 after advancing to the SUNYAC Semifinals last season. Geneseo allowed just nine goals in 18 games last season and return a strong defensive and midfield unit, led by fifth year Lindsey Clar, senior Lindsey Matthews, and senior goalkeeper Mollie Collins. Clar was an All-SUNYAC first team selection in 2023, while Matthews was a third team SUNYAC pick and Collins had an .862 save percentage and 0.50 goals against average. Head Coach Nate Wiley begins his 19th season at Geneseo in 2024 and has led the Knights to six SUNYAC Championships and seven NCAA Tournament berths, most recently in 2022.
 
SUNY Poly
SUNY Poly makes its Empire 8 debut in 2024 after finish 8-7-2 and in first place in the North Atlantic Conference West Division last season. Fourteen players and seven starters return for first year head coach Hunter Sowersby. Senior forward Hannah Shipley was an All-NAC first team selection in 2023 and second team pick in 2022. She tallied 20 points last season and enters her fourth season with 45 career points in 45 games. Goalkeeper Katie Bowers, an All-NAC third team selection and sophomore forward Caroline Enstwistle will also be counted on to lead the way for the Wildcats in 2024.
 
Final 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Standings ^
Nazareth (8-5-6, 5-0-3 E8, 18 points) – League Champions
St. John Fisher (8-4-5, 4-0-4 E8, 16 points)
Utica (7-5-5, 3-1-4 E8, 13 points)
Houghton (7-9-1, 4-4-0 E8, 12 points)
Russell Sage (9-5-4, 3-2-3 E8, 12 points)
Alfred (4-6-7, 2-1-5 E8, 11 points)
Hartwick (2-7-6, 0-3-5 E8, 5 points)
Keuka (1-12-2, 1-6-1 E8, 4 points)
Elmira (3-10-4, 0-5-3 E8, 3 points)
 
^ SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Poly are making its Empire 8 debut in 2024. Brockport and Geneseo competed in the SUNYAC, while Poly competed in the North Atlantic Conference in 2023.
 
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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