SUNY Geneseo will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions, as the 2026 season gets underway on Sept. 1 and league play begins on Sept. 12.
The top eight teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with quarterfinal action on Saturday, Oct. 31, semifinal round games on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and the championship three days later on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship.
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Garrett Eldridge
Xavier Bowman, Sr., F, Hampstead, MD/Manchester Valley - Bowman, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, is also a two-time third team All-Conference selection. Last season, Bowman was Alfred's offensive leader, recording 11 points on four goals and three assists with 18 shots on goal.
Hamza Kromah, Jr., F, Margibi, Liberia/Western Reserve Academy - Kromah earned 2025 All-Empire 8 first team accolades last season. He was a leader all over the field for the Saxons tallying nine points on four goals and one assist. He added 13 shots on goal with one game-winning goal.
SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Gary LaPietra
Khadim Amar, Jr., M, New York City, NY/Manhattan International - Amar, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2025 second team All-Conference selection. He totaled 13 points on the season with three goals and one assist.
AJ Nelson, Jr., GK, Fairport, NY/Fairport - Nelson was the 2025 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year. He finished up an impressive season landing first team All-Conference. In 12 games, he held a miniscule 0.58 goals against average and an .816 save percentage. He totaled 31 saves on the season and was credited with nine wins.
ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Jim McIntyre
Aadne Aarstad, Jr., D, Oslo, Norway/Doenski - Aarstad was a second team All-Conference selection in 2025. He totaled seven points on three goals and one assist on the season. He helped lead a Soaring Eagles defense which held a 1.32 goals against average.
Jose Corporan, Sr., M/F, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic/Punta Cana FC - Corporan, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, tallied nine points on four goals and one assist in 2025. He added eight shots on goal and scored one game-winner.
SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Mark Howlett
Jace DiPalo, So., F, Northport, NY/Northport - DiPalo had a fantastic debut season for the Knights in 2025. He was a second team All-Conference selection and totaled five goals and one assist on the season.
Michael Ruggiero, Sr., F, Holtsville, NY/Sachem East - Ruggiero is coming off of an impressive junior season. In 2025 he was named Empire 8 first team All-Conference. He was second in points on the team with 27, totaling 10 goals and seven assists.
HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach John Scott
Devin Chandler, Sr., M, Wylie, TX/Wylie East - Chandler, a 2025 second team All-Conference selection, was the offensive leader for the Hawks last season. He totaled 16 points on three goals and 10 assists. His 10 assists put him at the top of the conference in total assists and assists per game (.588).
Andres Ordonez, Sr., M, Estado de Mexico, Mexico/Colegio Merici - Ordonez is expected to emerge as a key offensive threat for the Hawks this season. He totaled six points on three goals last season.
HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Scott Reitnour
Elijah Bailey, Jr., D, Churchville, NY/Churchville-Chili - Bailey will be counted on to lead the Highlanders defense tin 2026. He also contributed on offense as well tin 2025.
James Fay, Jr., F, Stony Brook, NY/The Stony Brook School - Fay, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2025 third team All-Conference selection. He led the Highlanders in offense, totaling 15 points on six goals and three assists on the season. He added 12 shots on goal and two game-winning goals.
KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Jordan Sullivan
Tim Cowin, So., M, Syracuse, NY/Westhill - Cowin in expected to be a leader for the Wolves offense this season. In 2025, he totaled three points on one goal and one assist on the season.
Corey Hamilton, Jr., D, Falkirk, Scotland/Columbia - Hamilton, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, will continue to be a defensive force for the Wolves in 2026.
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Matt Tantalo
Samuel Burton, So., M, Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder - In his debut season, Burton was named the 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and a second team All-Conference selection. He started in all 17 games for the Golden Flyers and led the team with five goals and three assists.
Alexander Kobayashi, So., D, Buellton, CA/Santa Ynez - Kobayashi had an impressive start to his career with the Golden Flyers. In 2025, he earned third team All-Conference accolades. Kobayashi started all 17 games and led the team with six assists. He was ranked sixth in the Empire 8, averaging 0.35 assists per game.
SUNY POLY - Head Coach Peterson Jerome
Jael Casimir, Sr., M, Binghamton, NY/Union-Endicott - Casimir is expected to emerge as a top offensive weapon for the Wildcats in 2026. In his junior season, he tallied six points on two goals and two assists. He took 10 shots on goal and scored one game-winner.
Nazim Harizi, Jr., M, Binghamton, NY/Union-Endicott - Harizi, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a top offensive contributor for the Wildcats in 2025. He totaled eight points on four goals to go along with five shots on goal and one game-winner.
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Amir Pasic
Logan Diebold, Jr., D, Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South - Diebold, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, earned second team All-Conference accolades last season. In 2024 he was a third team All-Conference selection. In 2025, Diebold started all 19 games for the Gators defense who went into the postseason with a 1.12 goals against average.
John Lewis Whalen, Sr., F, Arlington, VT/Arlington - In his 2025 season, Whalen started 13 games for the Gators and totaled 18 points on six goals and six assists. He tied for third in assists in the Empire 8.
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Jack Burgasser
Adam Grover, Gr., M, Warsaw, NY/Warsaw - Grover tallied six points in his 2025 season. He totaled two goals and two assists on 15 shots on goal. He is expected to have a big role in the Cardinals offense this season.
Jack Tamburino, Sr., F, Oriskany, NY/Oriskany - Tamburino, a 2025 third team All-Conference selection, led the Cardinals on offense last season. He totaled 10 points on five goals, which was a team-high.
UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Brian Marcantonio
Mason Bucher, Sr., F, Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point - Bucher is expected to make an impact on the 2026 Pioneers offense. In 2025, he totaled five points on two goals and one assist. He added 10 shots on goal on the season.
Carter Cookinham, So., F, Poland, NY/Poland - Cookinham, a 2025 third team All-Conference selection, was top-two in offense for the Pioneers. He tallied 16 points on five goals and six assists with 13 shots on goal.
Final 2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Standings
Geneseo (13-6-3, 9-1-1 E8, 28 points) -
League Champions
Brockport (10-5-3, 8-1-2 E8, 26 points)
Elmira (10-4-5, 7-1-3 E8, 24 points)
St. John Fisher (6-9-2, 6-3-2 E8, 20 points)
Utica (9-5-5, 5-2-4 E8, 19 points)
Nazareth (7-7-3, 5-5-1 E8, 16 points)
Russell Sage (10-6-2, 4-5-2 E8, 14 points)
Hartwick (5-10-2, 4-6-1 E8, 13 points)
Alfred (4-9-4, 2-5-4 E8, 10 points)
Poly (4-12-2, 2-8-1 E8, 7 points)
Houghton (4-12-1, 2-8-1 E8, 7 points)
Keuka (1-15, 1-10 E8, 3 points)
2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Tournament Recap
First Round
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 8 Hartwick, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 7 Russell Sage, 4-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Elmira defeated No. 6 Nazareth, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 5 Utica defeated No. 4 St. John Fisher, 5-1 – BOX SCORE
Semifinals
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo and No. 5 Utica tied 1-1 (Geneseo advanced on PK's 5-4) – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 3 Elmira, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
Championship
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 2 SUNY Brockport, 2-1 (OT)
2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Dylan Thody, Sr., F, SUNY Geneseo
2026 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners
- Samuel Burton, Nazareth, So., M, Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder - 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- AJ Nelson, Brockport, Jr., GK, Fairport, NY/Fairport - 2025 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, 2025 United Soccer Coaches Fourth Team All-Region
- Hunter Bulich, Hartwick, Jr., F, Catskill, NY/Christian Brothers Academy - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year