Women's Soccer | 11/7/2026 3:47:00 PM
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ROCHESTER, NY – Senior Shannon Sgobmick scored twice and added an assist as second seeded Nazareth defeated No. 4 Geneseo 3-1 in Saturday's Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Game. With the win, Nazareth earns an automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. The selection who will be Monday, November 9 at 11:30 a.m. on
NCAA.com.
More NCAA Tournament info.
The five points in a game was a career-high for Sgombick. She was named the Most Valuable Player. The rest of the All-Tournament Team will be announced by the conference office next week.
In addition, senior Camryn Schiavitti was named 2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Torchbearer Award winner. This honor goes to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating in the finals (must be a junior or senior). Schiavitti is a senior Physical Therapy major with a 3.98 grade-point average.
The Golden Flyers move to 13-3-3 overall, while the Knights drop to 10-5-3.
The biggest play early in the game came in the 18th minute when the Knights had a point-blank one-time shot by leading scorer Ella Yarytm from eight yards out on a cross back that Katriana Walls managed to get a hand on to keep out of the net.
A little over a minute later, the Golden Flyers opened up of the scoring. Sgombick played a long through ball that Biehler outpaced the defender to, took a touch past the keeper and slotted into the net to make it 1-0.
In the 28th minute, Sgombick was on the other end of the goal. She took a high-kicked ball down from 30-yards out, took a few dribbles, and then rifled a shot into the lower left corner for a 2-0 lead.
Six minutes into the second half the Knights had another dangerous attempt from Lauren DeMura that Walls slowed down and then Lillian Fejko cleared off the line to keep the blank sheet.
In the 58th minute the Sgombick and Biehler combo was at it again. Biehler sprinted to a ball that the Geneseo defender tried to clear. She took it towards the end line and crossed it back to Sgombick for a beautiful third goal.
Geneseo was able to score on a free kick shot from 22-yards out by Emily McGee in the 85th minute.
With the win, Nazareth captured its 14th Empire 8 Title under legendary head coach Gail Mann, who is coaching in her final season. Nazareth last won the Empire 8 title in 2023, a 3-0 victory over St. John Fisher. The Golden Flyers were in the E8 title game for the 18th time since 2002.
Nazareth will await its first round NCAA Tournament opponent with the selection show taking place on Monday, November 9 at 11:30 a.m. on
NCAA.com