Women's Lacrosse | 2/19/2025 9:55:07 AM
St. John Fisher will look for its 13th straight Empire 8 title, as 10 teams will battle for the 2025 E8 Championship. The upcoming season gets underway with non-conference games on Feb. 19, while league play formally begins on March 22. SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, and SUNY Poly join the conference in 2025, expanding the Empire 8 men’s lacrosse membership to 10 programs.
The top six teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round games Tuesday, April 29, semifinal action on Thursday, May 1 and the championship game on Saturday, May 3. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2025 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Players to Watch
Brooke Bonetti, Keuka, Sr., M/A, Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy – Bonetti earned All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2024 after recording 22 goals and 24 points. She has 45 goals in 39 career games for Keuka.
Amelia Booth, Alfred, Sr., A, Staatsburg, NY/FDR – Booth was named the 2022 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year and is a three-time All-Empire 8 selection. She has 144 goals and 177 points to go along with 298 draw controls in three seasons.
Maddie Brown, SUNY Geneseo, Gr., A, Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta – Brown led the Knights in scoring last season with 80 points on 43 goals and 37 assists on her way to earning All-SUNYAC second team accolades. She has 155 career points on 96 goals and 59 assists.
Sydney Carpenter, St. John Fisher, Sr., A, Hilton, NY/Hilton – Carpenter, a two-time IWLCA All-American and two-time Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, is the Empire 8’s record holder with 426 draw controls. She has 136 career goals, 90 assists and 226 points. Last year, the three-time Empire 8 first-team selection set career highs in goals (57) and points (86).
Alayna Foos, SUNY Brockport, Senior, Attack, Auburn, NY/Auburn – Foos tallied 66 points on 52 goals and 14 assists on her way to earning All-SUNYAC first team accolades. She has 125 career goals and 158 points in three seasons.
Callie Johnson, SUNY Poly, Jr., A, Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill – Johnson earned All-North Atlantic Conference second team honors in 2024 after scoring 30 goals and 35 points.
Makenna Misiurewicz, Nazareth, Sr., A, Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia – Misiurewicz earned All-Empire 8 third team honors last season after recording 26 goals and 36 points to go along with 69 draw controls.
Grace Stuhlman, Utica, Sr., A, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro – Stuhlman, a three-time Empire 8 Player to Watch earned All-Empire 8 first team honors for the second time last season after leading Utica in scoring with 72 points on 54 goals and 18 assists to go along with 118 draw controls, second best in the Empire 8. She has 112 goals, 152 points and 201 draw controls in her career.
Kristen Vaccarelli, Hartwick, Sr., M, Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East – Vaccarelli, a three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection, led the Hawks 8 in scoring last season and was second in the league with 58 goals, while recording 79 draw controls and 55 ground balls last season. She has 160 career goals, 187 points and 264 ground balls in three seasons.
Maddison Walter, Russell Sage, Sr., M, South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls – Walter earned All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2024 after recording 35 goals on 27 goals and eight assists, while picking up 42 ground balls.
Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Team Capsules (Sorted by 2024 Standings)
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to win its 13th straight league championship in 2025. The Cardinals won 12 games and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Cardinals return 29 players, including nine starters from last season. Senior Sydney Carpenter, the 2022 and 2024 E8 Offensive Player of the Year, two-time IWLCA All-American selection and 2025 USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American, is the Empire 8’s record holder with 426 draw controls. She has 136 career goals, 90 assists and 226 points. Last year, the three-time Empire 8 first-team selection and three-time Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player set career highs in goals (57) and points (86). Fellow preseason-All-Americans Hanna Kumpf and Maddie Lowney return to lead the way. Kumpf, a two-time All-E8 pick, has 81 goals and 110 points over the last two seasons, while Lowney was named the 2024 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year. Both were 2024 IWLCA All-Region picks. Senior Mary Fiorentino has tallied 143 points on 83 goals and 60 assists in her St. John Fisher career. Kaley Griffin is back after scoring 33 goals last season, while Ella Stewart will team with Lowney to form a dynamic defensive duo. St. John Fisher has won 54 straight games against Empire 8 opponents dating back to the 2018 season. The Cardinals are 187-56 since head coach Linda Michele took over in 2012.
Utica
The Pioneers return 19 players and five starters from last season’s team that finished 14-4 overall and advanced to the Empire 8 Championship match for the first time in program history. Senior Grace Stuhlman earned All-Empire 8 first team honors for the second time last season after leading Utica in scoring with 72 points on 54 goals and 18 assists to go along with 118 draw controls, second best in the Empire 8. She has 112 goals, 152 points and 201 draw controls in her career. Sophomore midfielder Maria Stuhlman, Grace’s younger sister was named the 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and earned first team accolades after recording 51 points on 29 goals and 22 assists to go along with 42 ground balls. goalkeeper Makayla Purdy earned All-E8 second team honors after winning 13 games last season. Head coach Kristin St. Hilaire has brought in a group of highly touted newcomers, including Alyssa Specchio, Lindsay Pilla, Kendall Best and Elliana Lasher.
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers look to challenge for the Empire 8 title in 2025 and are seeking their first league crown since 2006. The Golden Flyers return 14 players and six starters from last season, including 2024 All-Empire 8 selections, graduate student Emily Paddock, seniors Julia Dietz and Makenna Misiurewicz, junior Allie Klestinec, and sophomore Elizabeth Smith. Paddock and Dietz were second team selections, while Klestinec, Misiurewicz and Smith earned third team plaudits. Misiurewicz tallied 26 goals and 36 points to go along with 69 draw controls last season, while Klestinec had a .514 save percentage in league play. Newcomer Katy McPeak, who previously played at Division II College of St. Rose will look to make an immediate impact for Nazareth in 2025.
Hartwick
Hartwick will look to even greater success in 2024 after advancing to the Empire 8 Semifinals for the fourth consecutive season in 2024. Hartwick returns 17 players and four all-league selections, headlined by three-time All-Empire 8 first team selection Kristen Vaccarelli. Vaccarelli led the Hawks 8 in scoring last season and was second in the league with 58 goals, while recording 79 draw controls and 55 ground balls last season. Katrina Marten led the E8 for the second straight season with 42 assists and added 18 goals for a 60-point season, garnering All-E8 second team plaudits for the second straight season. She has 172 career points on 56 goals and 116 assists. She is 31 assists shy of the Empire 8 record. Senior defenders Brianna Liebro returns after earning All-E8 second team accolades, while senior attack Kara Anderson scored 33 goals last season to earn All-E8 third team honors.
Russell Sage
Russell Sage is looking to get back to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2024 and has 12 players and six starters returning from last season’s team that was in the hunt for an E8 postseason berth until the final week of the regular season. Senior midfielder Maddison Walter earned All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2024 after recording 35 goals on 27 goals and eight assists, while picking up 42 ground balls. Classmates Aimee Rodriguez, a midfielder and defender Angelina Schaefer also return to lead the way. Rodriguez had 15 points, while Schaefer had 28 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers.
Alfred
Alfred will look to earn a postseason berth in 2024. Senior Amelia Booth was named the 2022 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year and is a three-time All-Empire 8 selection (first team 2022, second team 2023 and 2024). She has 144 goals and 177 points to go along with 298 draw controls in three seasons. She has scored at least 40 goals in each of her first three seasons. While Alfred will look to replace Alyssa Piechota, the 2024 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year on the back end, sophomore defender Cassidy Primrose enjoyed an excellent debut last season, picking 33 ground balls to go along with 19 caused turnovers on her way to earning All-E8 third team accolades. Newcomer Anna Priebe, an attack, is expected to play a large role for the Saxons in 2025, as Alfred celebrates its 30th season of women’s lacrosse.
Keuka
Keuka will look to get back to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2025 after advancing to the semifinals in its conference debut in 2021. The Wolves return nine players, including eight starters from last season’s team. Senior Brooke Bonetti is back to lead the offensive attack. Bonetti, an All-Empire 8 third team selection, tallied 22 goals and 24points last season. Senior defender/midfielder Katie Deatherage returns after earning All-E8 third team accolades in 2024 after leading the Wolves with 35 ground balls. Newcomers Lainie Forde and defender JJ Bay will look to make an immediate impact in 2025.
SUNY Brockport
The Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport make their E8 debut in 2025 for head coach Bryana Glaser. Brockport won 10 games last season and advanced to the SUNYAC Semifinals for the ninth consecutive season. Thirteen players return for the Golden Eagles, including 11 starters and six All-SUNYAC selections. Senior Alayna Foos tallied 66 points on 52 goals and 14 assists in 2024 on her way to earning All-SUNYAC first team accolades. She has 125 career goals and 158 points in three seasons. Sophomore Tristian Davis, the 2024 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year is back after recording 38 goals and 40 points last season, while junior midfielder Sarah Kilburn, junior defender Journey Naab, sophomore defender Kaeli McCarthy and sophomore goalkeeper Arianna Reed all garnered SUNYAC third team accolades in 2024.
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Geneseo, SUNYAC runners-up in 2024, makes its Empire 8 debut this season. Marykate Edmunds, who returns to the Empire 8 after a successful playing career at St. John Fisher where she helped lead the Cardinals to back-to-back Empire 8 Women's Lacrosse Championships and NCAA Tournament berths. She is 44-13 in three seasons with the Knights with two NCAA Tournament berths (2022 and 2023) and a 2023 SUNYAC Championship. The Knights return four All-SUNYAC selections from last season, including first team defender Sarah Ginnane and second team selections attackers Maddie Brown, Alaina Reina, and goalkeeper Emily DeJohn. Ginnane caused 36 turnovers last season, while DeJohn won 14 games in net and had an 8.12 goals against average. Brown led the Knights in scoring last season with 80 points on 43 goals and 37 assists, including a 12-point outburst in the SUNYAC semifinals against New Paltz. Reina led Geneseo with 46 and added 22 assists for 68 points. She has 101 goals in two seasons with the Knights.
SUNY Poly
SUNY Poly makes its Empire 8 debut in 2025 for head coach Charles Rosaschi. The Wildcats finished fourth in the North Atlantic Conference last season and return three All-NAC selections from last season, Callie Johnson, Rylie Fischer, and Jaylen Brown. Fischer, a first team pick, had 33 ground balls, 33 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers, while Brown made 205 saves and stopped nearly 47 percent of shots she faced on cage. Johnson earned All-NAC Conference second team honors after scoring 30 goals and 35 points. Senior midfielder Abigail Rosaschi will also be counted on to lead the way. First-year standouts Alyssa Hawkins and Brinley Ronan will look to make an immediate impact in 2025.
Final 2024 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Standings
St. John Fisher (12-8, 6-0 Empire 8) – League Champions
Utica (14-4, 5-1 E8)
Nazareth (7-10, 4-2 E8)
Hartwick (7-8, 3-3 E8)
Russell Sage (7-8, 2-4 E8)
Alfred (5-10, 1-5 E8)
Keuka (1-13, 0-6 E8)
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
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