Field Hockey | 10/30/2026 10:30:00 AM
SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick University, SUNY Brockport, Houghton University, St. John Fisher University, and Utica University will vie for the 2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship, which starts on Saturday, Oct. 31 and wraps up Saturday, Nov. 7, with all games played at the higher seed.
No. 3 seed SUNY Brockport will host No. 6 Utica, while No. 4 seed Houghton and No. 5 seed St. John Fisher will compete in opening round games on Saturday, Oct. 31. The winner of Houghton vs. St. John Fisher will travel to face top-seed SUNY Geneseo on Wednesday, Nov. 4, while No. 2 seed Hartwick is set to host the winner of Brockport vs. Utica, also on Wednesday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2026 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the highest remaining seed.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Tournament, which begins with first round action on Nov. 11 and second and third round contests Nov. 14-15.
2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Participating Teams
No. 1 – SUNY Geneseo (9-0 E8, 14-3 Overall)
No. 2 – Hartwick College (8-1 E8, 11-5 Overall)
No. 3 – SUNY Brockport (6-3 E8, 12-4 Overall)
No. 4 – Houghton University (6-3 E8, 10-5 Overall)
No. 5 – St. John Fisher University (5-4 E8, 8-9 Overall)
No. 6 – Utica University (4-5 E8, 4-11 Overall)
SUNY Geneseo, ranked No. 29 nationally in the most recent NCAA National Power Index, is looking to three-peat as E8 Champions. The Knights finished 9-0 in Empire 8 play and are 14-3 overall on the season. Geneseo is riding a 32-game winning streak against Empire 8 foes since joining the league in 2024. The Knights have out-scored opponents, 48-4 in league play and 74-16 overall and have four players with at least 20 points. Ella Greico leads the Empire 8 in scoring with 20 goals and 48 points, while Ava Harman has 45 points on 16 goals and a league-best 13 assists. Halle Senfield has 31 points on 13 goals and five helpers, while Aubree Wenner has 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points. Goalkeeper Bridget Schafer leads all E8 players with 14 wins, a 0.93 goals against average and five solo shutouts.
No. 2 seed Hartwick, the 2022 and 2023 league champions, enter the E8 Tournament with an 11-5 overall mark and finished 8-1 in league play during the season, outscoring its opponents, 37-8 in conference play. Hope Angioletti leads Hartwick in scoring and is third in the conference with 39 points on 13 goals and 13 assists, which is tied for first in the E8. Katelyn Klotz, the reigning E8 Defensive Player of the Year, is right behind with 30 points on 11 goals and eight assists. Makayla Bates and Kayla Kinkel each have 18 points. Bates also has a team-high four game-winning goals. Goalkeeper Ava Reynolds has a 1.26 goals against average and an .846 save percentage.
SUNY Brockport enters the E8 Tournament as the No. 3 seed with a 12-4 overall mark and 6-3 record in league play. Penelope Schalck leads Brockport in scoring with 11 goals and 24 points, while Elise Brady is right behind with nine goals and 20 points. Emily Nestor has four goals on the season, all of which are game-winners. She also has five assists. Laela Osinski leads Brockport with eight assists, as the Golden Eagles have out-scored their opponents, 50-20 in 2026. In net, Julia Niebor has a team-high 59 saves overall and is 4-2 in league play with a 1.01 goals against average and .870 save percentage, while Lauren Mastromarco has seven wins overall and a 1.19 goals against average.
Houghton, the No. 4 seed, advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game for the first time in program history in 2022 and is outscoring its opponents, 47-30 this season. Kylee Barshinger and Courtney Walbridge are tied for the team lead in scoring with 25 points apiece. Walbridge has a team-high 12 goals, while Barshinger has nine goals and seven assists. Adria Hartzler has added six goals and 14 points, while Ava Kramp has a team-best eight assists. Goalkeeper Amber Cribbs has played in all 15 games and has a 2.00 goals against average and a .797 save percentage. Houghton is in the E8 Tourney for the fifth straight season and seventh time overall.
No. 5 seed St. John Fisher is in the E8 Tournament for the 15th straight season and is looking for its fourth league title. Mary Kate McPhee leads the Cardinals in scoring with 27 points on 12 goals and five assists, while Avery McLaughlin is right behind with 21 points on eight goals and five helpers. Alison Taplin has played a team high 1,038 minutes, while Jordan Kauffman and Evelyn Ryan have four defensive saves each. In net, Morgan Parinello has eight wins with a 1.97 goals against average and four shutouts.
Sixth-seeded Utica is back in the E8 Tournament for the first time since 2023 and 11th time in program history. The Pioneers won four games in league play this season. Gabby Chase leads Utica in scoring with eight goals and 19 points this season, while Gianna Marcantonio and Jocelyn Spezio both have four goals and six assists for 14 points. Ryleigh Johnson leads the way with five defensive saves. In net, Alannah Nole took over the starting role in league play, going 4-3-0 with a 2.06 goals against average in E8 competition.
First round opponents Brockport and Utica met in Utica on Oct. 17, with the Pioneers earning a 3-2 victory. Houghton rallied from a 2-0 third quarter deficit to defeat first round opponent St. John Fisher on the road in overtime by a score of 3-2 on Oct. 14.
Geneseo is attempting to win its third straight title in its third season as a league member. Hartwick is looking to win its third title in the last five seasons and seventh overall, while Utica is aiming for its fifth E8 Championship and St. John Fisher attempting to win its fourth title since 2016. SUNY Brockport, and Houghton are all attempting to win their first league crown.
2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Schedule
Saturday, October 31 – First Round
No. 6 Utica University at No. 3 SUNY Brockport – 2 p.m.
No. 5 St. John Fisher at No. 4 Houghton – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, November 4 - Semifinals
Winner of Houghton/St. John Fisher at No. 1 SUNY Geneseo – TBA
Winner of SUNY Brockport/Utica at No. 2 Hartwick – TBA
Saturday, November 7 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2 -– TBA (at highest remaining seed)
Admission
$10.00 – Adults
$5.00 – Seniors
$2.00 – Students (with ID from competing institution)
Free – Children under 12
This 2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, visit
www.empire8.com or follow the Empire 8 Conference on X and Instagram (@Empire8).