2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Players to Watch

2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
 

Alfred University - Head Coach Garrett Eldridge
Xavier Bowman, Jr., F, Hampstead, MD/Manchester Valley - Bowman was one of the Saxons' leading offensive players in 2024. His 11-point season earned him All-Empire 8 third team honors. He totaled four goals and three assists.

Rodrigo Perez, Sr., M, Pelencia, Spain/IES Victorio Macho - Perez earned All-Empire 8 second team honors in 2024. He recorded one goal and one assist for the Saxons.

SUNY Brockport - Head Coach Gary LaPietra 
Khadim Amar, So., D, New York City, NY/Manhattan International - In his rookie season, Amar earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades. He led the squad in mintutes played (1,538) and helped lead the Golden Eagles defense while also registering four shots.

Max Voyer, Sr., F, Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South - In his first season in the E8, Voyer earned All-Empire 8 first team honors. He recorded 11 points with five goals and one assist.

Elmira College - Head Coach Jim McIntyre
Pietro Gallina, Sr., F, Rome, Italy/Circolo Canottieri Roma - Gallina earned 2024 second team All-Confernence honors. He was the points leader for the Soaring Eagles with 13 on five goals and three assists. 

Jose Navea Corporan, Jr., M/F, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic/Punta Cana FC - Navea Corporan was the leading goal-scorer for the Soaring Eagles in 2024 with six tallies in only 13 games played. 

SUNY Geneseo - Head Coach Mark Howlett
Ali Shabani, So., M, Rochester, NY/Aquainis - In his debut season, Shabani earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades. He scored two goals on the season on five shots on goal. 

Dylan Thody, Sr., F, Huntington Station, NY/Walt Whitman - Thody had four points on the season with one goal and two assists. He will be looked at to help lead the Knights offense this season.

Hartwick College - Head Coach John Scott
Kwame Amissah-Arthur, Sr., F, Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer - The 2022 E8 Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Empire 8 third team selection, Amissah-Arthur finished his 2024 season with two goals, one of which being a game-winner.

Hunter Bulich, So., F, Catskill, NY/Christian Brothers Academy - Bulich, the 2024 E8 Rookie of the Year and All-Empire 8 third team selection, had an impressive debut season. He recorded eight points with three goals and two assists.

Houghton University - Head Coach Scott Reitnour
James Fay, So., M, Stony Brook, NY/The Stony Brook School - James Fay tallied three goals and six points in his debut season for Houghton. Fay scored a game-winning goal, started six games and played in all 17 that the Highlanders had. 

John Fay, So., Stony Brook, NY/The Stony Brook School - John Fay totaled six points with three goals in his first season as a Highlander. He started seven games, and played in all 17 of the Highlanders' matches. 

Keuka College - Head Coach Jordan Sullivan
Corey Hamilton, So., D, Falkirk, Scotland/Columbia - Hamilton helped lead the Wolves defense in 2024 and will be counted on to be a team leader in 2025.

Brenden Moquin, Sr., F, Palmyra, NY/Palmyra-Macedeon - Moquin, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, started in seven games for the Wolves in 2024. He took 10 shots during his season.

Nazareth University - Head Coach Matt Tantalo
Quentin Herrmann, Sr., D, Alexandra, VA/West Potomac - Hermann earned All-Empire 8 third team accolades in 2024. He is expected to lead the Golden Flyers' defense in 2025. 

Spencer Neil, Jr., F, Vancouver, BC/West Point Grey Academy - Neil wrapped up his 2024 season with 21 points on nine goals and added three assists. 

SUNY Poly - Head Coach Peterson Jerome
Nazim Harizi, So., M, Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott - In his debut season, Harizi started 11 games for the Wildcats and will be expected to be a team leader in 2025.

JohnPaul Jerome, So., M, Utica, NY/New Hartford - Jerome played in 16 games in his rookie season with four starts. He will look to enjoy a breakout season in 2025.

Russell Sage College - Head Coach Amir Pasic
Logan Diebold, So., D, Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South - Diebold was a 2024 All-Empire 8 third team selection. In his debut season, he started all 18 games and scored two goals.

Dimitri Gogas, Jr., F, Merrick, NY/W.C. Mepham - Gogas was third in the conference in assists per game. He had six total assists and finished the year with three game-winning goals.

St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Jack Burgasser
Jacob McGinnis, Gr., M, Rochester, NY/Brighton - A 2024 All-Empire 8 first team and 2023 second team selection, McGinnis was a leader for the 2024 E8 Champion Cardinals. He also earned United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region accolades in 2024.

Blake Petocchi, Gr., D, Fairport, NY/Fairport - Petocchi started all 21 games last year for the Cardinals and was a leader on the defense. He helped the squad earn 13 shutouts during the 2024 season.

Utica University - Head Coach Brian Marcantonio
Noah Nassberg, Sr., LW, Naples, FL/Gulf Coast - Nassberg was a 2024 All-Empire 8 third team selection. He was a top-three offensive contributor for the Pioneers with 10 points on the season with four goals and two assists.

Max Pawlowski, Jr., M, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro - Pawlowski had six points during the 2024 season on one goal, four assists. He will be expected to be a team leader for the Pioneers in 2025.

Final 2024 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Standings
St. John Fisher (11-5-5, 8-1-2 E8, 26 points) - League Champions
Nazareth (10-4-4, 7-1-2 E8, 24 points)
Geneseo (8-4-2, 6-2-3 E8, 21 points)
Poly (10-4-4, 5-2-4 E8, 19 points)
Brockport (7-6-5, 5-3-3 E8, 18 points)
Hartwick (8-8-2, 6-5-0 E8, 18 points)
Elmira (7-9-4, 5-4-2 E8, 17 points)
Russell Sage (7-8-3, 4-4-3 E8, 15 points)
Alfred (5-10-2, 3-6-2 E8, 11 points)
Utica (3-9-7, 2-5-4 E8, 10 points)
Houghton (3-12-2, 1-8-2 E8, 5 points)
Keuka (0-15-0, 0-11-0 E8, 0 points)

2024 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Tournament Recap

Quarterfinals
No. 1 St. John Fisher defeated No. 8 Russell Sage, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 5 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 4 SUNY Poly, 3-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 6 Hartwick draws No. 3 SUNY Geneseo, 1-1 (advances on PK's 6-5) – BOX SCORE
No. 7 Elmira defeated No. 2 Nazareth, 2-1 – BOX SCORE

Semifinals 
No. 1 St. John Fisher tied No. 5 SUNY Brockport, 0-0 (St. John Fisher advances on PK's, 4-1) – BOX SCORE
No. 7 Elmira defeated No. 6 Hartwick, 2-0 – BOX SCORE

Championship
No. 1 St. John Fisher defeated No. 7 Elmira, 2-0 -– BOX SCORE

2024 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Christian Burkhart, GK, St. John Fisher
 

2024 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners