General | 10/6/2025 12:58:00 PM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on October 6, 2025, for games played from September 29 – October 5. It is the sixth Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2025-26 season. Sports featured include men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Ryan Hagan, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Liverpool NY/Liverpool
Hagan helped lead Geneseo to an impressive finish at the Paul Short Run on Friday, taking 22nd overall out of 422 runners in the Men’s College Gold race, which consisted of primarily Division I student-athletes. Hagan was the top finisher for the Knights in the 8,000-meter race, posting an impressive time of 23:45.1 (4:46.7 mile pace) in 22nd place. He led Geneseo to 22nd place team finish, second among all Division III teams. It is Hagan’s second straight E8 weekly accolade.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Ann Brennan, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima
Brennan placed 16th overall out of 422 runners at the Paul Short Run on Friday in the Women’s College White race. She recorded a time of 21:35.8 over the 6,000-meter course, with a 5:47.5 mile rate. Brennan led nationally-ranked SUNY Geneseo to a third place finish out of 46 Division III programs. It is Brennan’s second E8 weekly accolade of 2025.
FIELD HOCKEY
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Hope Angioletti, Hartwick, Jr., F, Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay
Angioletti was the driving force behind the Hawks' dominant 2-0 weekend, contributing eight valuable points in the Empire 8 triumphs over Elmira on Wednesday and Nazareth Saturday. Angioletti collected the game-winning assists in both contests, posting identical scorelines of one goal and two assists in each of Hartwick’s two wins.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ella Greico, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., F, New Hartford, NY/New Hartford
Greico scored four goals over two games for the Knights this week, leading the team to a 4-0 win over St. John Fisher on Wednesday and 2-0 victory over Alvernia Saturday. Greico tallied her third hat trick of the season against the Cardinals, then tacked on her fourth goal of the week on Saturday against Alvernia with a penalty stroke tally. Greico leads Empire 8 with 14 goals and 32 points and is now a two-time E8 Offensive Player of the Week in 2025.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Shannon Cunningham, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., D, Poughquag, NY/Arlington
Cunningham led SUNY Geneseo to two shutouts during the week, defeating St. John Fisher 4-0 on Wednesday and Alvernia 2-0 on Saturday. Cunningham and the Knights defense didn't allow the Cardinals to take a shot in the game, then limited Alvernia to just five shots with three reaching target. Additionally, Cunningham tacked on a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win over St. John Fisher. It is her second straight E8 weekly honor.
FOOTBALL
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Noah Currier, Alfred State, Jr., RB, Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama
Currier led the Pioneers offense as he tallied 292 yards on 35 carriers for three touchdowns in Alfred State’s 41-21 win over SUNY Morrisville on Saturday. Currier’s 292 rushing yards is an Empire 8 single-game high and most by a student-athlete in the league since 2017. He scored on a 2-yard run early in the second quarter and then extended Alfred State’s lead to 27-7 with a season-long 85-yard touchdown later in the quarter. Currier scored his third TD of the day on a 34-yard scamper to begin the fourth quarter and give Alfred State a 34-21 lead. It is his second E8 weekly honor of the season.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Carmine Hoag, Alfred, So., WR, Salamanca, NY/Salamanca
Hoag enjoyed a breakout game for the Saxons, who defeated E8 foe Hartwick College 45-24 on Saturday, finishing with 82 receiving yards and three touchdowns across seven receptions. In the first quarter, Hoag connected with quarterback Chris Kelly for a 23-yard touchdown to put Alfred on the scoreboard. With under a minute to go in the first half, Hoag recorded his second touchdown. Hoag was credited with his third touchdown of the contest during the third quarter. He brought in three receptions for 10 yards or more, with two of the receptions being for 20 yards or more. Overall, Hoag has tallied at least one touchdown in each of the first five games for the Saxons.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Jack Tanoory, St. John Fisher, So., LB, Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy
Tanoory led the Cardinals with a career-high 14 tackles, including an impressive 13 solo stops, in St. John Fisher’s 31-24 overtime win over SUNY Brockport in the 20th Camp Good Days and Special Times Courage Bowl on Saturday. Tanoory made the play of the game in the fourth quarter, stripping a Brockport wide receiver of the ball at the one-yard line to prevent a touchdown. The ball bounced through the end zone, resulting in a touchback that allowed Fisher's offense to take over at its 20. The Cardinals drove down the field for a go-ahead field goal. It was St. John Fisher’s first Courage Bowl win since 2016.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Matt Lotter, SUNY Cortland, Sr., LB, Fredonia, NY/Fredonia
Lotter blocked a crucial point-after attempt after Utica closed to within 21-13 in an eventual 28-13 victory for nationally-ranked SUNY Cortland over Empire 8 rival Utica on Saturday. He also led Cortland with nine tackles, six solo and 2.5 tackles for loss in the victory.
MEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Michael Ruggiero, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., M, Holtsville, NY/Sachem East
Ruggiero tallied nine points on four goals and an assist, as he helped lead SUNY Geneseo to 2-0 week in conference play, as the Knights remain perfect with a 5-0 record against Empire 8 opponents. In a 10-0 win over Keuka on Wednesday, Ruggiero registered a career-high and Empire 8 season-high four goals, then picked up an assist on the eventual game-winning goal in Geneseo's 2-1 win over Utica on Saturday. Ruggiero now has 20 points this season with nine goals and two assists.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Mateja Milutin, Russell Sage, Fr., GK, Novi Sad, Serbia/The Kiski School
Milutin registered eight total saves and did not allow a goal in a 1-0-1 week for the Gators, recording a pair of shutouts. On Wednesday, he made a pair of saves in a 1-0 win over Hartford. Mlutin stopped all six shots he faced in a scoreless draw against St. John Fisher on Saturday.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Parker Stusek, St. John Fisher, Fr., GK, Wickliffe, OH/Hawken
Stusek recorded the first two shutouts of his collegiate career last week as Fisher beat Alfred 1-0 on Wednesday and played Russell Sage to a scoreless draw on Saturday. Stusek made four saves in the Cardinals' win, their first of the season, over Alfred on Wednesday. He made eight stops, one shy of his season high, against Sage on Saturday.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Megan Gerber, SUNY Brockport, Sr., M, Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home
Gerber tallied nine points on four goals and an assist as the Golden Eagles moved to 5-0 in league play and 7-0-3 in 2025. On Wednesday, Gerber found the back of the net adding one goal to the total with two shots and one shot on goal in a 4-0 win over Houghton. In Brockport’s 9-0 dominant win over SUNY Poly on Saturday, Gerber recorded seven points on a hat-trick and an assist.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Avery Byrnes, St. John Fisher, Sr., GK, Clay, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse
Byrnes made six saves while earning a pair of shutout victories over Alfred and Russell Sage last week. She made four stops in the 1-0 road win at Alfred on Wednesday and two against Sage in a 3-0 win from Growney Stadium on Saturday. Byrnes hasn't allowed a goal in her last six appearances in net and has given up three total in 2025.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Natalie Pipes, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Victor, NY/Victor
Pipes led Geneseo to a 2-0 week with wins over St. John Fisher and Alfred to clinch an Empire 8 Tournament berth. Pipes went 2-0 at first singles, defeating Lily Renzi of St. John Fisher 6-0, 6-3 on Friday and Alina Zabihailo of Alfred, 6-3 6-0. Pipes and teammate JoAnn Catalano were also a perfect 2-0 at first doubles.
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – JoAnn Catalano, SUNY Geneseo, So., Williamson, NY/Williamson
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Natalie Pipes, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Victor, NY/Victor
Catalano and Pipes led Geneseo to a 2-0 week with wins at first doubles over St. John Fisher and Alfred, which helped the Knights clinch a postseason appearance. The duo went 2-0 at first doubles, defeating Eliana Kelly and Lilly Renzi of the Cardinals 6-4 and Alina Zabihailo / Elizabeth Madsen of Alfred, 6-3. It is the duo’s second E8 Doubles Team of the Week nod in 2025.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alexa Belanger, Houghton, So., OH, Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Belanger helped lead Houghton to a perfect 4-0 on the week with 63 kills, 44 digs and a .238 hitting percentage with three double-doubles. She opened the week with 22 kills, 13 digs and 23.5 points in a five-set win over Alfred. She continued with 14 kills, 15 digs, a .429 hitting percentage and 15 points versus Keuka. She wrapped up her week by totaling 27 kills, 16 digs and 33 points in a two-match sweep over Elmira and Pitt-Bradford. She recorded 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage vs. Elmira.
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Shelby Swartz, Hartwick, Sr., OH, Candor, NY/Candor
Swartz came up big at the net for the Hawks in their flawless 4-0 week, opening with road wins at Russell Sage and SUNY Poly before taking down Utica and Alfred State in a home tri-match. Swartz collected 48 kills over the week to just nine errors, hitting .353, while picking up nine blocks, 39 digs and three service aces. Swartz posted double digit kills in three of four matches, with her highest coming against Poly with 17, while hitting .375.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Kalyna Dannenberg, St. John Fisher, Fr., OH, Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius
Dannenberg had 21 kills, 16 digs, four service aces and two total blocks as the Cardinals pushed their winning streak to 17 with sweeps of SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo over the weekend. In all, she accounted for 26.5 points, averaging 4.3 points per set, while hitting .333. Dannenberg had 11 kills and logged a team-best .476 hitting percentage against Brockport on Friday. She also amassed 11 digs as part of her fifth double-double of her spectacular rookie season. It is Dannenberg’s fourth E8 Rookie of the Week honor in 2025.