Field Hockey | 8/22/2025 11:00:00 AM
SUNY Geneseo will look to earn back-to-back Empire 8 Championships, as the 2025 season gets underway on Aug. 29. E8 league play begins on Sept. 12 with Russell Sage College hosting Keuka College, with the rest of the conference play will starting on Sept. 20.
The top six teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action on Saturday, Nov. 1, semifinal contests on Wednesday, Nov. 5 and the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 8. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.
Fans can watch all season long, free of charge, on the Empire 8 Network.
2025 Empire 8 Field Hockey Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Adair Milmoe
Valerie Borg du Prie, Fr. F, Brussels, Netherlands - Borg du Prie is an exciting addition to the Saxons roster, who will help the squad in their debut season as an E8 program.
Sadielyn Combs, Jr., G, Afton, NY/SUNY Cortland - Combs will be expected to lead the way in goal for the Saxons this season. She will be a key piece as Alfred starts its first season in the E8.
SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Krista Archambeau
Allison Greene, So., F, Windsor, NY/Windsor - Greene, an All-Empire 8 third team selection, led the Golden Eagles in goals (10), assists, (7) and points (27) during the 2024 season.
Sophia Jones, Jr, M, Akron, NY/Akron - Jones had 13 starts in her 2024 season and recorded five points with one goal and three assists.
ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Jess Galatioto
Peyton DeMaio, So., D, Jordan, NY/Weedsport - In her debut season, DeMaio tallied 17 defensive saves, making her the NCAA Division III Statistical Champion in that category. She is expected to be a leader on the defense this season for Elmira.
Madison Fleming, Jr., Harpursville, NY/Harpursville - In 2024, Fleming was top-three in points for the Soaring Eagles and tied for first in shots on goal with 14.
SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Margaret McConnell
Ella Grieco, Jr., F, New Hartford, NY/New Hartford - Grieco, an All-Empire 8 and NFHCA All-Region selection, tied for the league lead with 16 goals last season and added four assists for 36 points, which was second in the league. She had four multiple-goal games, including at hat-trick at Skidmore.
Sam Lewis, Sr., M, East Rochester, NY/East Rochester - Lewis earned All-Empire 8 first team and NFHCA All-Region second team honors in E8 debut last season, Lewis, who was also named 2024 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player, was third in points for the Knights tallying 32 points on 10 goals with a league-high 12 assists.
HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Erin Autera
Hope Angioletti, Jr., F, Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay - A 2024 All-Empire 8 first team selection, Angioletti was a leader on the Hawks offense, finishing with five goals and one assist. Two of her five goals were game-winners.
Dani Hand, Jr., F, Queensbury, NY/Queensbury - Hand is a two-time All-Empire 8 second team all-conference member in her first two seasons. The 2023 E8 Rookie of the Year, Hand has 46 career points on 19 goals and eight assists.
HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Hannah Ogden
Campbell Bowers, Jr., D, Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington - Bowers had two points for one goal in 2024. She was a defensive leader for the Highlanders and led the team with three defensive saves.
Adria Hartzler, Jr., F, Belleville, PA/Mifflin County - Hartzler earned 2024 All-Empire 8 third team honors. She had 24 points on the season, finishing with eight goals and eight assists. Two of her goals were game-winners.
KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Jessica Franklin
Brianna Broadwell, Jr., M, Cato, NY/Cato-Meridian - Broadwell is expected to be a leader for the Wolves this season from her midfield position.
Anna Dewey, Sr., M, Sidney, NY/Sidney - Dewey, one of the Keuka leaders in 2024, recorded two goals and one assist on the season. She will be an important piece to the Wolves this season.
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Kelsey Devine
Michaela Cushman, So., F/M, Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent - The 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and second team all-conference selection had a stellar debut season. She led the way for the Golden Flyers on offense with 32 points on 13 goals and six assists, putting her fourth in the conference in goals.
Audra Mieczkowski, Sr., M, Vestal, NY/Vestal - Mieczkowski earned All-Empire 8 first team honors for the Golden Flyers last season after recording 29 points on 12 goals and five assists. She was also an All-E8 third team pick in 2023 and enters her final season with 55 career points on 22 goals and 11 assists.
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Carissa Warren
Olivia Brand, So., GK, Little Falls, NY/Little Falls - Brand led the Empire 8 with 14.6 saves per game as a first-year standout in 2024, which also ranked third in all of NCAA Division III.
Cheyenne Zobel, Jr., M, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa - Zobel earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades in 2024 after leading Russell Sage with 15 points on five goals and five assists.
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Lauren Scorza
Mary Kate McPhee, Jr., M, Salem, NY/Salem - McPhee, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, earned All-Empire 8 second team honors in 2023. In 2024, she had 14 points with five goals and four assists. Two of her goals were game-winners
Alison Taplin, So., D, London, United Kingdom/Kingsdale Foundation School - Taplin earned All-Empire 8 second team honors in her debut season, recording one assist on the season with two defensive saves.
UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Nikki Hobaica
Mia Benincasa, So., F, Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls - Benincasa was one of the top scorers for the Pioneers in 2024, finishing with 21 points on nine goals and three assists.
Alanna Fragapane, Sr., F, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy - Fragapane will be expected to be a leader on the Pioneer offense this season after scoring six goals last season.
2024 Empire 8 Field Hockey Standings
Geneseo (18-3, 9-0 E8) - League Champions
Brockport (13-6, 7-2 E8)
Hartwick (11-8, 7-2 E8)
Nazareth (9-8, 6-3 E8)
St. John Fisher (9-11, 6-3 E8)
Houghton (9-9, 4-5 E8)
Utica (4-12, 3-6 E8)
Keuka (2-14, 2-7 E8)
Russell Sage (1-15, 1-8 E8)
Elmira (0-14, 0-9 E8)
*Alfred will compete for the first time in the Empire 8 in 2025*
2024 Empire 8 Field Hockey Tournament Recap
First Round
No. 3 Hartwick defeated No. 6 Houghton, 4-1 – BOX SCORE
No. 5 St. John Fisher defeated No. 4 Nazareth, 3-0 – BOX SCORE
Semifinals
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 5 St. John Fisher, 2-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Hartwick defeated No. 2 SUNY Brockport , 2-0 – BOX SCORE
Championship
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 3 Hartwick, 4-0 -– BOX SCORE
2024 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Sam Lewis, SUNY Geneseo
Empire 8 Field Hockey Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Empire 8 Major Award Winners
- Michaela Cushman, So., F/M, Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Ella Grieco, Geneseo, Jr., F, New Hartford, NY/New Hartford - 2024 NFHCA First Team All-Region
- Danielle Hand, Hartwick, Jr., F, Queensbury, NY/Queensbury - 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Sam Lewis, Geneseo, Sr., M, East Rochester, NY/East Rochester - 2024 NFHCA Second Team All-Region