Empire 8 Athletic Conference
Women's Lacrosse | 4/29/2024 3:19:15 PM
Top-seed St. John Fisher University is looking to win its 12th straight league title, as the Cardinals, Utica University, Nazareth University and Hartwick College will vie for the 2024 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Championship, which takes place with semifinal action on Wednesday, May 1 and the title game taking place Saturday, May 4, with all games played at the higher seed. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship, which begins with first and second round action May 11-12.
Final 2024 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Championship Seeds
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (6-0 E8, 9-7 Overall)
No. 2 – Utica University (5-1 E8, 13-3 Overall)
No. 3 – Nazareth University (4-2 E8, 7-9 Overall)
No. 4 – Hartwick College (3-3 E8, 7-7 Overall)
The 2024 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, follow the Empire 8 Conference on Twitter (@Empire8).
2024 Empire 8 Women’s Lacrosse Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 1 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
No. 4 Hartwick College at No. 1 St. John Fisher University – 7 p.m.
No. 3 Nazareth University at No. 2 Utica University – 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 4 – Championship (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2 – TBA
St. John Fisher enters the 2024 Championship with a perfect 6-0 record in league play and 9-7 mark overall, having out-scored opponents, 217-116 on the season. In six E8 games, St. John Fisher out-scored opponents, 117-15. The Cardinals are looking for their 12th straight league title and 14th overall in program history. Ten different players have at least 10 goals for the Cardinals and four have at least 30 points. Junior Sydney Carpenter, a two-time All-American, leads the team in scoring with 68 points on 42 goals and 26 assists to go along with 91 draw controls, 42 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers. Hanna Kumpf has added 27 goals and 41 points, while Mary Fiorentino has 18 goals, 19 assists and 37 points for the Cardinals. Defender Maddie Lowney leads the Cardinals with 50 ground balls, 33 caused turnovers and is second with 64 draw controls, while Shannon Foster has 25 ground balls to go along with 13 caused turnovers. In net, first-year Kaylee Gadol has an 8.61 goals against average and a .444 save percentage while playing in 15 games for the Cardinals.
Utica is the No. 2 seed and in the Empire 8 Tournament for the second time in program history (2019). The Pioneers are making their seventh overall appearance in the E8 Tournament and sixth in a row. Utica has won 13 of its last 14 games and finished 5-1 in E8 play, having out-scored its opponents, 243-131. Grace Stuhlman leads the team in scoring with 52 goals and 68 points in 16 games to go along with 104 draw controls, while Samantha DeCondo is right behind with 59 points on 37 goals and 22 assists. Alyssa Drell has added 30 goals and Maria Stuhlman has 21 assists to go along with 23 goals and team-high totals of 40 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers in 16 games. Defender Aana Blaszka has 35 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. First-year goalkeeper Makayla Purdy is 12-3 in net with an 8.45 goals against average and a .463 save percentage.
No. 3 seed Nazareth finished 4-2 in league play and has seven wins overall. The Golden Flyers earned the No. 3 seed with an 11-10 overtime win at Hartwick to end the regular season on April 27. Nazareth has six players with at least 10 goals. Kate Metzler leads Nazareth with 42 goals and 57 points, while Makenna Misturewicz has 23 goals, 33 points and a team-high 62 draw controls. Sophia Scialdone and Julia Dietz have 32 points apiece. Dietz has a team-high 21 assists. Maggie Vay has 27 goals, while Maggie Gannon leads the Nazareth defense with 29 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Sophom*ore Allie Klestenic has appeared in all 16 games in net for the Golden Flyers and has a .503 save percentage in addition to a team-high 47 ground balls. Nazareth is looking for its fifth E8 title and first since 2006.
Hartwick enters the tourney for the fourth straight season as the No. 4 seed with a 7-7 overall record and 3-3 mark in E8 play. The Hawks are out-scoring their opponents 180-156 this season and feature seven players with at least 12 goals. Kristen Vaccarelli and Katrina Marten are among the top scorers in the league this season. Vaccarelli has league-high 57 goals, while Marten leads the league and is among the national leaders with 40 assists and has added 18 goals for 58 points. Vaccarelli has also added 76 draw controls to go along with 52 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers. Kara Anderson has added 33 goals, while defenders Teresa DiNanno and Brianna Liebro have combined for 32 caused turnovers. Goalkeeper Brooke Lynett has played in 14 games for the Hawks in 2024, recording a .443 save percentage and six wins.
St. John Fisher defeated Nazareth by a score of 19-2 on March 29, while Utica defeated semifinal opponent Nazareth by a score of 13-10 on April 17.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.
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