General | 7/17/2025 9:59:04 AM
Sydney Carpenter, a member of the St. John Fisher University women’s lacrosse team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference Woman of the Year. This award honors a senior female student-athlete who has distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership.
Carpenter is the fourth student-athlete from St. John Fisher chosen as the conference’s Woman of the Year, joining Sydney French (women’s volleyball, 2023), Emily Trotman (softball, 2021) and Katie Mazierski (softball/volleyball, 2018).
Carpenter, a native of Hilton, N.Y., excelled on the lacrosse field, leading the Cardinals to four consecutive Empire 8 Championships, never losing a game against a league opponent in time at the university (36 straight wins including regular season and postseason). She was a three-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American, earning first team honors in 2023 and 2025 in addition to third team accolades in 2024. Carpenter was also a four-time IWLCA All-Region first team selection and competed in four NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship Tournaments.
“I am beyond grateful to be named the Empire 8 Woman of the Year,” said Carpenter. “This is such an incredible honor, and it truly means so much to me. I’m especially thankful for everyone who has supported me throughout my collegiate career and helped guide me toward making this honor possible. I’ve been fortunate to have amazing teammates and mentors who have inspired me to be my best on the field, in the classroom, and in life. I’ve had the opportunity to grow not just as a student-athlete, but also as a leader and competitor.”
Carpenter was named the 2022 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and co-Offensive Player of the Year, 2024 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year and 2025 E8 Midfielder of the Year. She was a four-time All-Empire 8 first team selection and was named the Empire 8 Championship Most Valuable Player in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Carpenter enjoyed a tremendous senior season for the Cardinals, appearing in 16 games for the E8 Champions, recording 74 points on 38 goals and 36 assists to go along with 78 draw controls, 33 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.
“Sydney embodied the spirit of determination and excellence, leading her team through tireless dedication and an unwavering commitment to her craft,” said Linda Michele, recently retired St. John Fisher Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach. “Her discipline and relentless work ethic not only elevated her game but inspired those around her to strive for greatness, proving that the true measure of a champion lies in the journey of becoming one's best self.”
She finished her remarkable career with 300 career points on 174 goals and 126 assists and is the Empire 8 all-time leader with 504 draw controls. In 2023, she set an Empire 8 single season record and was third nationally with 182 draw controls. The following season, Carpenter recorded career-high totals of 57 goals and 85 points. She tallied at least 36 goals and 65 points in all four seasons and went over 100 draw controls in a season three times.
Carpenter recently earned her bachelor’s degree in inclusive adolescent education from St. John Fisher, with a concentration in history, while carrying a tremendous 3.9 grade-point average. She is a six-time member of the Empire 8 President's List for maintaining at least a 3.75 grade-point average, while earning St. John Fisher Dean’s list honors seven times.
Carpenter was a member of St John Fisher’s Alpha Gamma Omicron chapter of KDP, National Honor Society for Educators, and member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. In addition, she earned 2023 and 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors and IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll Recipient in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
“Sydney is the kind of leader that inspires confidence in her team by showing them the way on and off the field through her hard work, discipline, and commitment to success,” said Jen Granger, St. John Fisher Director of Athletics.”
Outside of the field and classroom, Carpenter excelled in engagement within the St. John Fisher community, as a member of the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, while participating in St. John Fisher’s Out of Darkness. Walk, which raised awareness and support for mental health, Stick it Cancer awareness game in 2025 and Morgan’s Message game. She has also served as a substitute teacher in the Rochester City School District and has coached with youth and club lacrosse programs over the last few seasons.
“Sydney is one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the Empire 8’s storied history,” said Joe Venniro, Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner. “Her accolades on the field, starting with four league championships in four seasons in addition to multiple All-American honors are legendary. What is even more impressive are her leadership qualities and what she has already accomplished in the classroom and in her student-teaching and offseason coaching roles. She has a great future ahead of her.”
“Over the past four years at St. John Fisher and as a member of the Empire 8, I’ve grown into the person I am today,” said Carpenter, who will begin teaching in the Victor School District this fall. “I’ve learned the power of perseverance, the value of putting your best effort into everything that you do, and the importance of teamwork and family. I’m excited to carry these lessons with me into the next chapter of my life and to pass them on to the next generation as both a teacher and a coach.”
Carpenter joins an elite group of student-athletes from across NCAA Division I, II and III nominated for the award. Established in 1991, the award recognizes female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers. She will also be forwarded to the national DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Female Athlete of the Year award.
The committee will choose the top ten nominees in each division (I, II and III) in fall 2024. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division in late fall. The 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the 2025 NCAA Convention in January.
Carpenter led a strong contingent of eight outstanding nominees considered by the Empire 8 Woman of the Year Committee:
2024-25 Empire 8 Woman of the Year Finalists
Sydney Carpenter, Lacrosse, St. John Fisher University
Deborah Cross, Field Hockey, Houghton University
Abigail Gatza, Softball, Alfred University
Natalie Milne, Soccer, Houghton University
Annika Monfort, Soccer, Nazareth University
Hailey Roethel, Field Hockey, SUNY Geneseo
Grace Stuhlman, Lacrosse, Utica University
Kristen Vaccarelli, Lacrosse, Hartwick College
For more information on the NCAA Woman of the Year,
CLICK HERE.
Past E8 Woman of the Year Winners
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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