Field Hockey | 10/31/2026 8:35:15 PM
No. 3 seed SUNY Brockport (13-4) and fifth-seeded St. John Fisher University (9-9) advanced to the 2026 Empire 8 Semifinal round after earning first round on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Golden Eagles earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over No. 6 Utica University, while St. John Fisher went on the road to defeat No. 4 seed Houghton University, 2-0
Semifinal matchups are set, as SUNY Brockport will head to No. 2 Hartwick College (11-5) at 2 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 4, while The Cardinals will travel to top-seed SUNY Geneseo (14-3) at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Hartwick earned a 4-1 win at semifinal opponent SUNY Brockport on Sept. 26, while Geneseo defeated St. John Fisher, 5-0 on the road, also on Sept. 26.
The winners of Wednesday's semifinals games advance to the 2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Cross Country Championship game at the home of the highest remaining seed. The 2026 Empire 8 Champion earns an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship Tournament, which begins Nov. 11.
NO. 3 SUNY BROCKPORT 1, NO. 6 UTICA 0
The Brockport field hockey team punched its ticket to the next round of the E8 Tournament with a gritty 1-0 shutout victory over Utica on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament at Dr. Linda Arena Field. With the postseason win, the Golden Eagles improve to 13-4 overall and advance to the Empire 8 Tournament Semifinals. Utica has its season end with a 4-12 mark.
The victory also marks a historic milestone for the program, as Head Coach
Krista Archambeau secured her first career postseason win with the Golden Eagles.
Following a scoreless first half that saw both defensive units stand tall, Brockport broke through early in the third period.
Penelope Schalck delivered the game-winning tally at the 35:06 mark, converting a clutch penalty stroke to give the Green and Gold a 1-0 advantage.
That lone goal proved to be all the defense needed as freshman goalkeeper
Julia Nieboer turned away all four shots on target over 60 minutes of action to secure the complete-game shutout. Brockport held a 12-9 edge in total shots and a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners. Sophia Weiss made five saves for Utica.
NO. 5 ST. JOHN FISHER 2, NO. 4 HOUGHTON 0
Senior
Mary Kate McPhee scored twice in the third quarter, and the Cardinals' defense held Houghton to one shot on goal as the No. 5-seeded St. John Fisher field hockey team beat No. 4 Houghton, 2-0, in the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Burke Field.
The Cardinals (9-9) advance to the Empire 8 Tournament semifinals for the 15th consecutive year. Houghton had its season come to an end with a 10-6 mark.
Fisher controlled the first quarter. The Cardinals outshot Houghton 9-0 and earned five penalty corners in the frame, but Highlanders goalkeeper Amber Cribbs made seven saves to keep the game scoreless. One of those saves came on a McPhee penalty stroke 7:46 into the game.
Houghton had its best stretch in the second quarter, earning five penalty corners and taking four shots. None of the four reached the cage, and the teams went to halftime scoreless.
McPhee broke through 3:25 into the third quarter with an unassisted goal that made it 1-0. Fisher kept up the pressure. Cribbs and Katie Berghorn turned away two
Alison Taplin shots off a corner, and Cribbs stopped
Avery McLaughlin twice in a 12-second span. Seconds after Fisher's next penalty corner, McPhee scored again with 4:25 left in the quarter to make it 2-0.
Houghton's only shot on goal came 3:46 into the fourth quarter, and junior goalkeeper
Morgan Parrinello saved Adria Hartzler's attempt. The Highlanders earned two corners in the final six minutes, but Fisher blocked Kylee Barshinger's shot and Ava Kramp's follow-up went high.
Fisher outshot Houghton 21-9, held a 16-1 edge in shots on goal and earned 13 penalty corners to Houghton's eight.
2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 31 – First Round at Higher Seed)
No. 3 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 6 Utica University, 1-0 – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 5 St. John Fisher University defeated No. 4 Houghton University, 2-0 – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Wednesday, November 4 - Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
No. 5 St. John Fisher at No. 1 SUNY Geneseo – 4 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 3 SUNY Brockport at No. 2 Hartwick College – 2 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Saturday, November 7 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal No. 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal No. 2 – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS