Women's Soccer | 8/26/2026 11:00:00 AM
St. John Fisher looks for back-to-back Empire 8 Championships, as the 2026 season gets underway on Sep. 1. 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 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Players to Watch
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Craig Yanni
Isabelle Dennis, Sr., D, Livonia, NY/Livonia - Dennis earned 2025 Empire 8 third team all-conference honors for her prowess on the defensive side for the Saxons. She added some offense in her junior season with one goal and five assists, earning her seven points.
Sidney Kuhns, Sr., M, Spencerport, NY/Spencerport - Kuhns, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2025 Empire 8 third team all-conference selection. She totaled three goals on the season, putting her tied for third on the team. She finished her season with six points.
SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Jessica Christenson
Amelia Breton, Sr., F/M, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili - Breton, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was the 2025 Empire 8 Midfielder of the Year. She is a two-time first team All-Conference selection as well as a 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Region first team and a 2024 second team pick. She totaled 21 points on nine goals and three assists.
Emily McCane, Sr., GK, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili - McCane, the 2025 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, had a great season between the pipes. She earned first team All-Conference accolades as well as 2025 United Soccer Coaches first team All-Region. She held a 9-0 record with a 0.25 goals against average. She added 23 saves, earning her a .920 save percentage.
ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Bill Kelly
Stefanie Hilty, Sr., DM, Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest - Hilty led a Soaring Eagles defense that averagd 2.65 goals per game in 2025. She is expected to continue to be a defensive leader in 2026.
Emily Seiler, Jr., F, Enfield, NH/Mascoma - Seiler totaled two points on one goal during her 2025 season. She will be looked at to elevate the Soaring Eagle offense this season.
SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Quintin Rogers
Kirsten Shepard, Jr., F, Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit Valley - Shepard was the second highest goal-scorer on the Knights in 2025. She totaled seven points on three goals and one assist.
Ella Yartmyn, Jr., F, Bath, NY/Haverling - Yartmyn was a 2025 second team All-Conference selection. She totaled 11 points on the season with five goals and one assist. She will be counted on to be an offensive leader for the Knights in 2026.
HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Brian Knapp
Ella Grupe, So., M, Freehold, NY/Greenville - Grupe had an incredible debut season for the Hawks. She was a second team All-Conference pick as well as the 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. She led the team in points with 12 on four goals and four assists.
Trinity Irizarry, Sr., D, Greenwood Lake, NY/Warwick Valley - Irizarry, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a 2025 second team All-Conference selection. She led a defense that held a 0.68 goals against average.
HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Esther Pellegrino
Taylor Curyto, Sr., F/M, N. Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili - Curyto, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, was a third team All-Conference selection in 2025. She totaled 16 points on six goals and four assists on the season. She added 17 shots on goal and scored two game-winners.
Hope Russell, Jr., F, Filmore, NY/Filmore - Russell earned 2025 second team All-E8 accolades last season. She led the way offensively for the Highlanders with 21 points on the season. She tallied 10 goals on the season putting her third in the conference. In addition, Russell added one assist and had 42 shots on goal.
KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Jeremy Loncao
Lydia Lane, Jr., M, Buffalo, NY/City Honors - Lane was the offensive leader for the Wolves in 2025. She led the team in goals with two and finished up with four points on five shots on goal.
Anna Leone, Jr., M, Brighton, NY/Brighton - Leone is expected to be a big part of the offense for the Wolves in 2026. In 2025, she finished her season with one goal on two shots on goal.
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Gail Mann
Helena Reihs, So., D, Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna - Reihs was a 2025 Empire 8 second team All-Conference selection. She appeared in all 19 games with 18 starts for the Golden Flyers. She posted an assist in their E8 quarterfinal win over SUNY Geneseo.
Shannon Sgombick, Sr., F, Florida, NY/S.S. Seward Institute - Sgombick, a 2025 Empire 8 second team All-Conference selection, appeared in 19 games with 17 starts last season. She ranked second on the Golden Flyers with 13 points on six goals and one assist.
SUNY POLY - Head Coach Colleen McTygue
Kara Mertz, So., M, Milford, NY/Milford - Mertz was an offensive leader for the Wildcats in 2025. She totaled eight points on four goals with 10 shots on goal.
Rylee Unebasami, So., M, Pearl City, HI/Mililani - Unebasami was a double threat in 2025. On offense, she totaled two points on one goal. In the net, she started seven games and earned one win. She made 65 saves on the season and held a .793 save percentage.
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Garrett Cobb
Gracie Drenth, So., M, Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville - In her debut season, Drenth played in 16 games with 14 starts. She had two points on one goal on the season. Her lone goal was a game-winner against SUNY Delhi.
Sofia Sanzo, Sr., F, Niskayuna, NY/Colonie - Sanzo is expected to lead the way for the Gators after missing all of the 2025 season due to injury. In 2024, she tallied eight points on three goals and two assists after appearing in 16 games for Division I LeMoyne University in 2023.
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Molly Romano
Francesca Logrippo, Sr., F, Latham, NY/Shaker - Logrippo matched her career highs in points (9) and assists (5) in 2025 on her way to first team All-E8 honors. Logrippo scored the golden goal in the Cardinals' overtime victory for the Empire 8 Championship. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the E8 Tournament.
Emily Woolingham, Jr., F, Buffalo, NY/Williamsville East - Woolingham, the 2025 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, produced one of the best offensive seasons by a Cardinal in program history. She tied for first in the E8 in goals (11) and was second in assists (7). She totaled 29 points on the season, putting her fifth in program history for most points in a season.
UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Brooke Barbuto
Cora Craft, Sr., D, Poughquag, NY/Arlington - Craft garnered All-Empire 8 third team honors in 2025. She tallied 10 points on four goals and two assists on the season.
Madison Wagner, Jr., F, Soukville, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels - Wagner was an offensive weapon for the Pioneers in 2025. She was second in points on the team with 13. She totalled four goals and five assists on the season.
Final 2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Standings
Brockport (14-2-4, 10-0-1 E8, 31 points)
St. John Fisher (13-5-2, 9-1-1 E8, 28 points) - League Champions
Nazareth (9-7-3, 6-3-2 E8, 20 points)
Hartwick (9-4-6, 5-2-4 E8, 19 points)
Utica (8-6-5, 5-2-4 E8, 19 points)
Geneseo (5-6-7, 5-2-4 E8, 19 points)
Houghton (11-5-3, 5-4-2 E8, 17 points)
Alfred (7-10-2, 3-6-2 E8, 11 points)
Russell Sage (5-9-2, 3-6-2 E8, 11 points)
Keuka (1-11-4, 1-8-2 E8, 5 points)
Elmira (2-13-2, 1-8-2 E8, 5 points)
Poly (1-15-2, 0-11 E8 0 points)
2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Tournament Recap
Quarterfinals
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 8 Alfred, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 7 Houghton, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Nazareth defeated No. 6 SUNY Geneseo, 3-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Hartwick defeated No. 5 Utica, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
Semifinals
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 4 Hartwick, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 3 Nazareth, 2-0 – BOX SCORE
Championship
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 1 SUNY Brockport – 1-0 (OT) – BOX SCORE
2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Francesca Logrippo Jr., M, St. John Fisher
2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Conference Award Winners
- Amelia Breton, Brockport, Sr., M, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili - 2025 Empire 8 Midfielder of the Year, 2025 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region, 2024 United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region
- Ella Grupe, Hartwick, So., M, Freehold, NY/Greenville - 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Emily McCane, Brockport, Sr., GK, Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili - 2025 Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year, 2025 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region
- Karryne Mims, Houghton, Jr., F, Jamestown, NY/Jamestown - 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Emily Woolingham, Jr., St. John Fisher, F, Buffalo, NY/Williamsville East - 2025 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year