Women's Soccer | 11/5/2025 9:10:57 PM
No. 1 seed SUNY Brockport and No. 2 St. John Fisher University advanced in semifinal play during the 2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Brockport earned a 1-0 victory over No. 4 Hartwick College, 1-0, while St. John Fisher defeated East Avenue rival No. 3 seed Nazareth University, 2-0 from Growney Stadium.
SUNY Brockport (14-1-4) will host St. John Fisher (12-4-2) in the 2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship match on Saturday, November 8 at 1 p.m. from A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field. Both teams are attempting to win their first Empire 8 title. This is Brockport’s first appearance in the E8 title game and St. John Fisher’s third trip to the league championship match, all in the last five seasons.
Brockport and St. John Fisher recently met on Oct. 11 from Growney Stadium with the Golden Eagles pulling out a 1-0 win. McKenna Slate the lone goal of the game just 10 seconds into the second half for Brockport. Emily McCane and Madeline McCrosson combined for five saves in the shutout win for the Golden Eagles.
Saturday's winner earns the Empire 8's automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, which begins Nov. 14-15.
NO. 1 SUNY BROCKPORT 1, NO. 4 HARTWICK 0
Wednesday night, through all the wind and the rain, Brockport prevailed in the Empire 8 Semifinals matchup against Hartwick. The Golden Eagles got the win at home, 1-0, earning the right to host the Empire 8 Finals on Saturday.
Brockport dominated the first half of action, outshooting the visiting Hawks, 11-2. Early on, Hartwick was able to fend off the Golden Eagles' onslaught. However, eventually they would break through.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Brockport's
Caitlin Nelson lit up the scoreboard. Nelson corralled a loose ball in the attacking zone, and with her right foot put Brockport up 1-0. Despite a few more chances in the opening half of play, neither team would score again before the half. The Green and Gold held onto a 1-0 lead through 45 minutes.
Starting in net for Brockport was
Emily McCane. She made one save in the first half, before
Madeline McCrosson checked in for the second half.
As the second half began, the weather continued to roar on. Despite the poor conditions, both teams brought their best efforts in the final 45 minutes. Hartwick was able to create a few more opportunities this half, including its first corner kicks of the match. Brockport's backline continued to thwart away any threatening passes, not allowing any shots on goal in the second half.
While the Golden Eagles outshot Hartwick, 6-3, in the half, neither team would score again. A strong defensive effort would keep the Hawks from any quality looks at the net, securing the 1-0 clean sheet for Brockport.
Nelson's goal would prove to be the game-winner, pushing the Golden Eagles on to the Empire 8 Finals. Just one year after a loss in the E8 Semifinals to Nazareth in 2024, Brockport pushes through in 2025.
NO. 2 ST. JOHN FISHER 2, NO. 3 NAZARETH 0
Winners of six straight games, the Cardinals improved to 12-4-2 overall and snapped their four-game postseason losing streak to their East Avenue rival Nazareth with Wednesday's 2-0 semifinal victory. Nazareth, which finished the season 9-7-3, beat Fisher in the Empire 8 title game in 2021 and 2023 and in the semifinals in 2005 and 2009.
The victory marked the Cardinals' fifth over the Golden Flyers all-time and second in a row. Fisher hadn't beaten Nazareth in consecutive games since a two-game run back in 1992-93.
The Cardinals scored their first goal of the game in the 33rd minute, as senior defender Maddy Jackson crossed a pass to senior forward Madelyn Wania, who tapped a shot over Nazareth keeper Delaney Malone for her eighth tally of the season.
Fisher, which controlled possession for the majority of the game, clung to that one-goal lead until sealing the victory in the 86th minute on sophomore forward Emily Woolingham's 11th goal of the season. Senior forward Brooklyn Drago tallied her fifth assist of the year on the play with a centering pass.
St. John Fisher improved to 5-0 in games started by freshman goalkeeper Isabella Ayers, who made five saves.
The Cardinals' 12 wins are the third most in a season in program history and their most under head coach Molly Romano. Three of the Cardinals' five victories over the Golden Flyers have come under Romano, who became Fisher's head coach in 2019.
The Cardinals ended Nazareth's pursuit of a fifth consecutive Empire 8 Championship game appearance.Ayers has recorded a shutout in four of five games since becoming Fisher's starting goalkeeper on Oct. 15 against Houghton.
With her second-half tally, Woolingham tied Colleen Mullaley (11, 2001) and Stephanie Long (11, 1993) for fourth on Fisher's single-season goals list. Woolingham needs just two more points to pass Stephanie Long for fourth on the program's single-season points list. Woolingham has scored three goals against Nazareth this season. Woolingham leads the Empire 8 with 29 points on 11 goals and seven assists. She's second in the conference in assists and tied for first in goals.
2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Schedule
Saturday, November 1 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 8 Alfred, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 7 Houghton, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Nazareth defeated No. 6 SUNY Geneseo, 3-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Hartwick defeated No. 5 Utica, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
Wednesday, November 5 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 4 Hartwick, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 3 Nazareth, 2-0 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, November 8 - Championship Final
No. 2 St. John Fisher at No. 1 SUNY Brockport – 1 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Site: Higher Seeds for all games
Admission
$10.00 - Adults
$2.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12