Women's Lacrosse | 7/22/2026 8:54:36 AM
Maddie Lowney, a member of the St. John Fisher University women’s lacrosse team was named the 2025-26 Empire 8 Conference Woman of the Year. This award honors a senior female student-athlete who has distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership.
Lowney is the fifth student-athlete from St. John Fisher chosen as the conference’s Woman of the Year, joining former teammate Sydney Carpenter (women’s lacrosse, 2025), Sydney French (women’s volleyball, 2023), Emily Trotman (softball, 2021) and Katie Mazierski (softball/volleyball, 2018).
Lowney, a native of Baldwin, Md., excelled on the lacrosse field, leading the Cardinals to four consecutive Empire 8 Championships, never losing a game against a league opponent in her time at the university (39 straight wins including regular season and postseason). She was a two-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American, earning second team honors in 2025 and 2026. Lowney was also a four-time IWLCA All-Region first team selection and competed in four NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship Tournaments.
“I’ve always been surrounded by strong women so to even be considered for Woman of the Year is a great honor,” said Lowney. “The influence of the culture at St. John Fisher has helped me grow in character as an athlete and a student. The community of my team and coaches has shown me what it means to be strong and determined, but mostly importantly what it means to be a good friend. I will always value my time at Fisher for shaping who I am. As a member of the Empire 8, I feel prepared to be a successful leader in my career and remain resilient in the face of any challenges.”
Lowney was named the 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year before being named the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, 2025 and 2026. She was a four-time All-Empire 8 first team selection and four-time Empire 8 Championship All-Tournament Team pick, culminating by winning the E8 Championship Most Valuable Player in 2026. Lowney enjoyed a tremendous senior season for the Cardinals, serving as team captain and appearing in 21 games for the E8 Champions, recording career-best totals of 85 draw controls and league-leading marks of 67 ground balls and 64 caused turnovers.
“Maddie is the epitome of St. John Fisher women's lacrosse and what it means to represent St. John Fisher both academically and athletically,” said MaryKate Edmunds, St. John Fisher Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach. “She brings pride, joy, and goodness to everything that she does, competes with the highest integrity for her team and the sport, is the ultimate competitor, and a loving teammate. Maddie brought our program to new heights through her play, breaking numerous records and countless on-field accomplishments. However, she will be remembered most for the person, leader, and teammate that she was to each person on our team. We are so grateful for all that Maddie has brought to our program and the lasting impact she will have on Fisher lacrosse.”
She finished her remarkable career as the Empire 8 all-time leader with 167 caused turnovers to go along with 273 draw controls and 231 ground balls. In 2023, she had 51 ground balls, 36 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers. The following season, Lowney recorded 77 draw controls, 60 ground balls and 38 caused turnovers, before recording 75 draw controls, 53 ground balls and 44 caused turnovers in her junior season.
Lowney recently earned her bachelor’s degree in both legal studies and sustainability from St. John Fisher, while carrying a tremendous 3.91 grade-point average and graduating summa cum laude. She is a six-time member of the Empire 8 President's List for maintaining at least a 3.75 grade-point average, while earning St. John Fisher Dean’s list honors eight times.
Lowney won both the St. John Fisher Sustainability Award and Excellence in Legal Studies Award in 2026 was a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. In addition, she earned 2023 and 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors and IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll Recipient in both 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
“Maddie has excelled by going above and beyond what is required, maintaining a positive attitude and putting her team first,” said Jen Granger, St. John Fisher Director of Athletics. “She embodies St. John Fisher University’s core values, leading her team with respect and integrity.”
Outside of the field and classroom, Lowney excelled in engagement within the greater Rochester community, serving as a Rochester Ecology Partners Volunteer, creating an interactive workbook on Rochester-area pollinators for younger students and organized a planting and cleanup event at Griffin Garden with the World of Inquiry School. In addition, she attended programs on law school admissions, legal careers and LSAT preparation, while connecting with fellow legal studies students. Lowney also interned with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, meeting with clients, visiting incarcerated individuals, helping prepare them for court proceedings and assisted her mentor attorney by reviewing discovery materials and writing evidence summaries.
For several years, Lowney supported beach cleanup and community outreach efforts in Ocean City, Md., including adopting a beach, collecting more than 400 pounds of trash in one weekend and assisting with a youth leadership and surf camp.
“Maddie enjoyed a sensational career on the lacrosse field as arguably the most dominant defensive player in the league’s history to date,” said Joe Venniro, Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner. “From day one, she emerged as a leader for a team that won four E8 championships in consecutive seasons in addition to winning three E8 Defensive Player of the Year honors and a trio of All-American accolades. What Maddie has already accomplished in the classroom, giving back to the Rochester and Ocean City communities, while gaining key experience to prep for her future law career is very impressive. She has a remarkably bright future ahead of her.”
Lowney will now be forwarded to the national DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Female Athlete of the Year award. She led a strong contingent of nine outstanding nominees considered by the Empire 8 Woman of the Year Committee.
2025-26 Empire 8 Woman of the Year Finalists
Lydia Benjamin, Swimming and Diving, SUNY Geneseo
Megan Gerber, Soccer/Flag Football, SUNY Brockport
Faith Ingber, Soccer/Flag Football, Elmira College
Noelle Linenfelser, Cross Country/Track and Field, Houghton University
Maddie Lowney, Lacrosse, St. John Fisher University
Samantha Luba, Track and Field, Nazareth University
Amber Piersma, Soccer, Utica University
Lily Vanuga, Tennis, Hartwick College
Alina Zabihailo, Tennis, Alfred University
Past E8 Woman of the Year