Women's Soccer | 11/11/2026 2:00:00 PM
The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2026 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Senior forward Shannon Sgombick of Nazareth University was named the Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player after helping lead the Golden Flyers to their 14th league title in program history.
Sgombick tallied eight points on three goals and two assists across three games, as the Golden Flyers scored 10 times en route to winning the Empire 8 Championship. She opened the scoring and assisted on Aubrey Rizzo’s eventual game-winning goal, as Nazareth defeated No. 3 Houghton University, 5-2 in the E8 Semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 4. In the title game on Saturday, Nov. 7, Sgombick assisted on Savanna Biehler’s game-opening goal in the 19th minute and then took control with two goals of her own, first, the eventual game-winner in the 28th minute and next in the 58th minute to lead the Golden Flyers to a 3-1 win over No. 4 SUNY Geneseo to claim the league title and earn the automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament.
Sgombick was one of four Nazareth student-athletes to earn All-Tournament Team honors.
2026 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Carly Chupick, Sr., D, SUNY Geneseo (Northport, NY/Northport)
Claire Woolingham, Jr., D, SUNY Geneseo (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East)
Ella Yartym, Jr., F, SUNY Geneseo (Bath, NY/Haverling)
Taylor Curyto, Sr., M, Houghton (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili)
Elena Esh, Sr., F, Houghton (Gordonville, PA/Linville Hill Christian)
Savanna Biehler, Fr., F, Nazareth (Fairport, NY/Fairport)
Liliana Fejko, Sr., M, Nazareth (Andover, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional)
Shannon Sgombick, Sr., F, Nazareth (Florida, NY/S.S. Seward Institute) *
Katrina Walls, Jr., GK, Nazareth (Fairhaven, NJ/Marine Academy of Science and Technology)
Francesca Logrippo, Sr., M, St. John Fisher (Latham, NY/Shaker)
Carli Maltbie, Sr., M, St. John Fisher (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna)
* Named 2026 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship Most Valuable Player