Women's Lacrosse | 5/16/2025 1:21:03 PM
Eleven student-athletes from five Empire 8 institutions were named to the 2025 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Empire Region Team. Senior Sydney Carpenter of St. John Fisher University was named an all-region selection for the fourth straight season.
Carpenter, the 2025 Empire 8 Midfielder Player of the Year, Hannah Kumpf, the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year and Maddie Lowney, the E8 Defensive Player of the Year were first team selections, along with fellow St. John Fisher standouts Emma Biel and Ella Stewart, along with SUNY Geneseo attack Maddie Brown were first team selections. Sarah Ginnane of Geneseo, the SUNY Brockport duo of Alayna Foos and Karaline McCarthy, Nazareth University goalkeeper Allie Klestinec and Kristen Vaccarelli of Hartwick College were second team picks.
Lowney, Kumpf and Vaccarelli are now three-time All-Region selections. All 11 student-athletes previously earned 2025 All-Empire 8 first team accolades.
A total of 256 student-athletes were selected in the eight regions for 2025. These student-athletes are now eligible to be named to the national IWLCA All-American team that will be released on May 23.
Carpenter, a senior, who was previously the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year in both 2022 and 2024, Midfielder of the Year in 2025 and Rookie of the Year in 2022, is in the midst of another tremendous season for the Cardinals, appearing in 15 games for the E8 Champions in 2024, recording 74 points on 38 goals and 36 assists to go along with 77 draw controls, 33 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. She enters the third round of the NCAA Tournament with 300 career points on 174 goals and 126 assists and is the Empire 8 all-time leader with 503 draw controls.
Kumpf, a native of Victor, NY, enters the weekend with 61 points on 44 goals and 17 assists in 19 games to go along with 51 draw controls. She has scored at least 38 goals in all three seasons she has played at Fisher and has 122 goals and 167 points in 55 career games.
Lowney, who was previously the 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, has enjoyed a tremendous junior season for the Cardinals with 53 ground balls, 72 draw controls and 42 caused turnovers. She is a key component of the St. John Fisher defensive unit that allowed just 29 goals in nine Empire 8 regular season contests and was named the IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week on May 13.
Biel, a native of Syracuse, NY, has a team-best 52 goals with 18 assists for 70 points in 2025, as the Cardinals enter NCAA third round action with a 19-0 overall record.
Stewart, who hails from Sellkirk, NY, has excelled for the Cardinals with 30 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers in 2025. She has served a valuable role on the defensive side for the undefeated Cardinals.
Brown enjoyed a tremendous final season for the Knights, as she recorded 93 points on 37 goals and 56 assists. A native of Rochester, NY, she recorded 248 career points on 133 goals and 115 assists in four seasons with Geneseo.
Ginanne, from Buffalo, NY, recorded 48 casued turnovers and 40 ground balls on defense for the Knights in 2025.
Foos, a native of Auburn, NY, led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 74 points on 51 goals and 23 assists in 2025. She also recorded 16 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers.
McCarthy, who hails from Scotia, NY, was named the 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. She tallied 65 points on 34 goals and 31 assists, while adding 93 draw controls and 23 ground balls.
Klestinec, from Geneva, NY, went 11-8 between the pipes with a .469 save percentage and 174 saves. She was 7-3 in league play with 70 saves.
Vaccarelli, a native of Dix Hills, NY, is Hartwick's first three-time All-Region selection. She enjoyed another tremendous season for the Hawks in 2024, leading the league with 68 goals to go along with 21 assists, 89 points, 50, ground balls and 75 draw controls. Vaccarelli finished her career as the Empire 8's all-time leader with 228 goals. She also recorded 48 assists, 276 points, 339 draw controls and 182 ground balls in 59 career games.
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.
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