Women's Flag Football | 4/29/2026 11:00:00 AM
SUNY Geneseo swept all four major individual accolades, as the Empire 8 Conference announced its inaugural 2026 Women’s Flag Football All-Conference awards on Wednesday, April 29. The awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.
SUNY Geneseo quarterback Ella Koopman was named the 2026 Empire Offensive Player of the Year. Koopman a sophomore quarterback from Fredonia, NY, threw for 2,631 yards and 32 touchdowns, while rushing for 922 yards on 189 carries and 10 more scores. She was tremendous in seven league games, throwing for 1,542 yards and 17 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 474 yards and five scores.
Defensive back Emily McLouth of Geneseo was named the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year. McLouth, a junior from Clarence Center, NY, led a Geneseo defense that allowed 11.5 points per game in E8 play during the regular season. She had 105 total tackles, eight interceptions and 14 pass breakups for the Knights. In league play, McLouth had 59 tackles, six interceptions and six pass breakups in eight contests.
First-year wide receiver/running back Natalia DiPalma of Geneseo was named the 2026 E8 Rookie of the Year. DiPalma, a native of Fredonia, NY, ran the ball 103 times for 495 yards, while catching 39 passes for 579 yards and 14 total touchdowns for the Knights. She had 757 total yards and 10 touchdowns in eight E8 regular season contests.
Geneseo, led by head coach Rob Currin and assistant coach Terry Summerfield led the Knights to the regular season title and top-seed in the 2026 E8 Women’s Flag Football Tournament with a 7-1 mark in league play. Overall, the Knights had seven all-conference selections in 2026 and out-scored opponents, 236-92 in eight regular season league games.
SUNY Geneseo led all E8 institutions with seven all-conference selections, while SUNY Brockport, the inaugural E8 Women’s Flag Football Champions and Hartwick College were right behind with six. Elmira College had five all-conference selections, while Russell Sage had four student-athletes honored.
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2026 Empire 8 Women’s Flag Football Tomorrow’s Leaders Team. This team honors a student-athlete who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they “compete with honor and integrity” and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.
“Developing character and integrity is a hallmark of the Empire 8,” said E8 Executive Director
Chuck Mitrano. “This series is proof that Empire 8 and our member institutions are committed to intercollegiate athletics’ important role in higher education.”
2026 Empire 8 Women’s Flag Football All-Conference Selections
Offensive Player of the Year: Ella Koopman, So., QB, SUNY Geneseo
Defensive Player of the Year: Emily McLouth, Sr., DB, SUNY Geneseo
Rookie of the Year: Natalia DiPalma, Fr., WR, SUNY Geneseo
Coaching Staff of the Year: SUNY Geneseo, led by Head Coach Rob Currin
Empire 8 First Team Offense
Ella Koopman, So., QB, SUNY Geneseo (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia)
Megan Gerber, Sr., U, SUNY Brockport (Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home)
Addy Van Dewater, Fr., WR, SUNY Brockport (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West)
Amarionah Dixon, Sr., WR, Elmira (Elmira, NY/Elmira)
Faith Ingber, Sr., U/WR, Elmira (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich)
Hailey Blake, So., WR, Russell Sage (Schenectady, NY/Colonie)
Natalia DiPalma, Fr., WR, SUNY Geneseo (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia)
Empire 8 First Team Defense
Lauren Cundra, Jr., S, SUNY Brockport (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North)
Ariana Kennedy, Jr., DB, SUNY Brockport (Buffalo, NY/North Tonawanda)
Nyla Capen, Fr., LB, Elmira (Morrisonville, NY/Peru)
Fiyorina Daniel, Fr., DB, SUNY Geneseo (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East)
Emily McLouth, Jr., DB, SUNY Geneseo (Clarence Center, NY/Clarence)
Caitlyn Schutte, So., DB, SUNY Geneseo (West Sayville, NY/Sayville)
Ellie Kalbach, Sr., DB, Hartwick (Spring City, PA/Owen J. Roberts)
Ziyon Harrison, Fr., DL, Hartwick (Clay, NY/Liverpool)
Empire 8 Second Team Offense
Madison Beardley, Fr., QB, SUNY Brockport (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit)
Audra Doll, Fr., QB, Hartwick (Greene, NY/Greene)
Kylie Hook, So., W, Elmira (Utica, NY/Whitesboro)
Corina Dunn, Jr., C/WR, SUNY Geneseo (Le Roy, NY/Le Roy)
Kenna MacKenzie, So., WR, SUNY Geneseo (LeRoy, NY/LeRoy)
Bailey McCoy, So., WR, Hartwick (Otego, NY/Unatego)
Anne Stanavich, Jr., WR, Hartwick (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam)
Aniyah Kelley, Sr., Russell Sage (Newcastle, DE/Willam Penn)
Empire 8 Second Team Defense
Cymbri Jefferson, Gr., LB, SUNY Brockport (Binghamton, NY/Newark Valley)
Kylie Hook, So., S, Elmira (Utica, NY/Whitesboro)
Jessica Chase, Jr., R, SUNY Geneseo (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads)
Audra Doll, Fr., LB, Hartwick (Greene, NY/Greene)
Hailey Blake, So., Russell Sage (Schenectady, NY/Colonie)
Kaleigh Dean, So., Russell Sage (Salt Point, NY/FDR)
Empire 8 Tomorrow’s Leaders Team
Caitlynn Haugh, Fr., RB/R, SUNY Brockport (Livonia, NY/Livonia)
Olivia Kehler, Jr., RB, Elmira (Kingerstown, PA/Tri-Valley)
Ella Koopman, So., QB, SUNY Geneseo (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia)
Brooke Sands, Sr., OL/DL, Hartwick (Antwerp, NY/Indian River)
Hailey Blake, So., Russell Sage (Schenectady, NY/Colonie)