Field Hockey | 11/3/2025 9:00:00 AM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on November 3, 2025, for games played from October 27 – November 2. It is the tenth 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 ice hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, women’s volleyball, and men’s wrestling.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Bennett Melita, Utica, Jr., Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville
Melita was the individual champion at the Empire 8 Championship, hosted by St. John Fisher University on Saturday for the second time in the last three seasons, recording a time of 25:34.2 over the 8,000-meter course. Melita took the lead just before the halfway point of the race and never looked back, extending his lead to at the 6,000-meter mark and pulling away over the final 2,000-meters to win by 24 seconds. It is Melita’s third E8 weekly accolade of the season.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Ann Brennan, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Honeoye Falls, NY/Honoeye Falls-Lima
Brennan won the individual title at the 2025 Empire 8 Women’s Cross Country Championship at St. John Fisher on Saturday, finishing 21 seconds ahead of the field over the 6,000-meter course in a time of 22:22.7. Brennan, who was third at the 2024 E8 Championships and sixth at the 2024 NCAA Niagara Region Championships, used a tremendous late brush to rally from third at the 4,000-meter mark to roll to the win. It is Brennan’s fourth E8 weekly honor of 2025.
FIELD HOCKEY
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ella Greico, Houghton, Jr., F, New Hartford, NY/New Hartford
Greico scored or assisted on the first five goals for the Knights against Houghton, as she became just the sixth player in program history to record 100 career points. Greico assisted on the first three goals for Geneseo, then scored back-to-back goals to help the Knights defeat Houghton 7-2 and secure the regular season title. It is Greico’s third E8 weekly honor of 2025.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Avery McLaughlin, St. John Fisher, So., F, Little Falls, NY/Little Falls
McLaughlin tallied eight points on two goals and three assists in a pair of wins for the Cardinals last week, including a five-point effort on two goals an assist to lead the Cardinals to a 5-2 win over Houghton in the opening round of the E8 playoffs on Saturday. It was her fourth game this season with five or more points and second in Fisher's last three contests. McLaughlin needs just one more point to move into a tie for 10th on the Cardinals' single-season points list.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Lauren Bachner, Nazareth, Sr., GK, Gorham, ME/Gorham
Bachner registered two winning decisions in victories over Elmira and Brockport , totaling nine saves on 10 shots faced. She recorded her eighth shutout of the year in 5-0 Empire 8 Quarterfinal win over Brockport Saturday, making eight saves, as Nazareth advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals. It is Bachner’s third E8 weekly honor of 2025.
FOOTBALL
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Mike Rescigno SUNY Cortland, So., QB, Arlington, NY/Arlington
Rescigno tied a Cortland single-game record with five touchdown passes in a 49-7 win at Alfred State. He finished the day 16-of-26 passing for 251 yards, including TD passes of 11, 4, 13, 80 and 14 yards, and he rushed six times for 72 yards. It is Rescigno’s third E8 weekly accolade of 2025.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Isaiah Simmons, SUNY Brockport, Jr., RB, Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West
Simmons had a huge day running the ball for Brockport, notching a season-high 236 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns. To go with his rushing scores of 11 yards and 14 yards, Simmons also set a new program record for the longest run from scrimmage at Brockport. The star back went 99 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to finish off his day. Simmons also contributed five receptions for five yards in the pass game, as the Golden Eagles dominated Alfred at home, 51-0.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Mason Miranowicz, Utica, Jr., DE, Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush
Miranowicz had a monstrous outing on Saturday, leading a Pioneer defense that held a surging St. John Fisher squad to just seven points. The junior edge rusher did it all during the 31-7 win, logging four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He altered the Cardinals' offensive schemes all day long, wrecking their rushing attack while also being a disruptor in the passing game. Miranowicz’s play was the primary factor in the strong defensive showing for the orange and blue, with the edge rusher being at the scene of numerous massive stops that resulted in the Cardinals going 1-of-9 on third down, 1-of-4 on fourth down, and 1-for-3 in the redzone.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Zach McGowan, SUNY Brockport, Jr., K, Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home
McGowan had another great outing in Brockport's 51-0 win over Alfred. He went perfect with his leg on field goals and extra points on the day. He was 6-for-6 on point-after attempts and 3-for-3 on field goals from 25, 25, and 41 yards out. On the kickoff, he racked up 627 yards on 10 kicks with five touchbacks. It is his third straight E8 weekly accolade.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nick Reif, SUNY Brockport, Fr., F, Depew, NY
In a 1-1 opening weekend for Brockport, Nick Reif recorded four goals on nine shots to power the Golden Eagles offense. In Brockport's 6-2 win against Neumann Saturday, Reif netted three straight goals in 7:55 for his first collegiate hat-trick. He also scored Brockport’s goal at Stevenson Friday.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Jacob Torgner, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., G, Mjolby, Sweden
Torgner stopped 34-of-36 shots in SUNY Geneseo’s season-opening 2-2 tie against Wilkes University on Saturday. He also helped lead Geneseo to a win in the three-round shootout as well.
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Amy Laskowski, Nazareth, So., F, Clarendon Hills, IL
Laskowski, the reigning 2024-25 UCHC Co-Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, tallied six points on three goals and three assists in a pair of wins for No. 10 Nazareth. She had a goal and two assists in a 4-0 win over Rivier on Friday and added two goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory over Anna Maria.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Brynn Bacak, St. John Fisher, Fr., G, Williamsville, NY
Bacak earned two wins in the Cardinals' weekend sweep over Neumann University. Over the two games, she recorded 39 saves, allowed just on goal, and posted an impressive .975 save percentage. She also collected the first shutout and victory in program history.
MEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Byamungu Mugushu, Utica, Gr., F, Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes
Mugushu delivered a nine-point week on four goals and an assist to drive Utica’s 2-0 stretch. He scored a brace in both the team’s 6-0 win over Keuka and 5-1 win over St. John Fisher in the first round of the Empire 8 Championship Tournament. Mugushu scored the game-winning goal in both games, extending both his single-season and career program records. It is his third E8 weekly accolade of 2025.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia, Elmira, Jr., GK, San Juan, Puerto Rico/XL Academy
Cruz Gandia led the defensive efforts for Elmira in their quarterfinal win against No. 6 seeded Nazareth. Gandia recorded six saves in goal to help record the shutout for the Soaring Eagles. Two of his saves came in crucial moments in the final ten minutes of play to help Elmira advance to the semifinals.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – AJ Nelson, SUNY Brockport, So., GK, Fairport, NY/Fairport
In Brockport's 4-0 opening round win against Russell Sage, AJ Nelson recorded his seventh shutout of the season, making three saves in the playoff outing. He also stopped five shots in Wednesday’s regular season finale, a 1-0 win over SUNY Geneseo. It is Nelson’s second E8 weekly honor of the season.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Amelia Breton, SUNY Brockport, Jr., M, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili
Breton tallied three goals for the Golden Eagles in a pair of wins this week. During their matchup on Wednesday against Geneseo, Amelia helped the Golden Eagles to a 2-0 win to clinch the No. 1 Seed with a goal. On Saturday, Breton had two goals on the day in the first round of the E8 tournament to help Brockport take the 3-1 win.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Isabelle Dennis, Alfred, Jr., D, Livonia, NY/Livonia
Dennis helped the Saxons clinch a spot in the Empire 8 Tournament with an 11-0 win over SUNY Poly on Wednesday, recording four assists in the win. The mark breaks the AU school record (since 2000) and tied the Empire 8 record for most in a single game (Nazareth’s Michelle Urbanski and Jaime Snyder and Ithaca’s Jessica DiManno).
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
CO-SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Youssef amr Abdallatif, Alfred, Fr., Backstroke/Individual Medley, Cairo, Egypt/Raya Language School
Abdallatif helped the Saxons pick up a statement win over the Statesmen of Hobart College on Friday evening, winning 226-46 on the road and, continues to break pool records. He now owns the Bristol Pool record in the 100-yard backstroke and is part of the pool record in the 200-yard medley relay. He teamed with Carlos Gonzalez, Seif Asaad and Calem Striker to break the pool record in the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:37.17. He then went on to break the pool record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 50.28. On Friday, he was a perfect 4-for-4, winning the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.54 and the 200-yard freestyle relay, teaming with Emmanuel Drappatz, Andre Ayala and Striker for a time of 1:29.30. It is his third straight E8 weekly accolade.
DIVER OF THE WEEK – Greg Meder, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Diver, Plainview, NY/Plainview
Meder swept the diving events for Geneseo in their win over Brockport on Friday, recording scores of 338.60 in the 3-meter dive, and 334.55 in the 1-meter dive to earn his second straight E8 weekly honor.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Alex Sotek, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Butterfly/Freestyle, New Lebanon, NY/New Lebanon
Sotek won three events for the Knights to help them defeat Brockport on Friday. Sotek took first in the 200-yard butterfly (2:16.18), the 200-yard backstroke (2:13.17), and was on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team who won with a time of 1:37.66.
DIVER OF THE WEEK – Hannah Kolakowski, SUNY Geneseo, Fr., Diver, Cohoes, NY/Cohoes
Kolakowski won the 1-meter with 243.90 and took the 3-meter with 228.45 points at the Hartwick Tri Meet over the weekend to earn her second straight E8 weekly honor.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Braelyn Hornick, Hartwick, Sr., S, Candor, NY/Candor
Hornick led Hartwick the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Championship Tournament with road wins over SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport over the weekend. She dished out 79 assists (10.0/set) and added 19 digs to go along with five kills. She had 41 assists and 10 digs in a four-set win over SUNY Geneseo Friday and added 38 assists, nine digs and three kills in a four-set victory over SUNY Brockport Saturday. It is Hornick’s second E8 weekly honor of 2025.
CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Sophie Hunter, SUNY Geneseo, Fr., OH, West Seneca, NY/West Seneca
Hunter was dominant on offense for Geneseo as they defeated Sage in four sets to secure a home court quarterfinal match. Hunter hit .457 with 19 kills on 35 swings on the outside against the Gators. Hunter also tallied seven kills against Hartwick on Friday.
CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Kendall Turner, Utica, Fr., OH, Huber Heights, OH/Wayne
Turner helped propel the Pioneer offense to a pair of wins in the team’s final week of regular season play. Turner totaled 17 kills while managing to hit .193 across both games last week, averaging just under three kills per set. Turner also posted eight service aces, while also averaging 4.67 digs per set. Against Keuka, Turner brought down 10 kills while hitting .179 with 18 digs. Against Elmira, Turner managed seven kills while hitting .222 on the afternoon with a team high six service aces and 10 digs.
MEN’S WRESTLING
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK – Seth Richardson, Utica, Sr., 174/184 lbs., Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain
Richardson delivered a flawless 3-0 day with three pins to power Utica’s 2-1 finish at the Pitt-Bradford Quad Meet. He bested Elmira College’s Rhojan Monfort in 1:03 at 184, bumped to 174, and pinned Pitt-Bradford’s Chris Tigar in 5:26, then returned to 184 to defeat Jamestown Community College’s Brad Smith in 1:37.