Top-Seeded Women's Soccer to Host Utica on Wednesday in Empire 8 Semifinal
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – After making history on Saturday, the top-seeded St. John Fisher College women's soccer team will look to build upon its success this season when it hosts fourth-seeded Utica College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday on the turf inside Growney Stadium in the semifinal round of the Empire 8 Championship. Second-seeded Hartwick will square off with third-seeded Nazareth College at 7 p.m. in Oneonta on the other side of the bracket with the winner of each meeting in the conference title game on Saturday. The game will be played at the highest remaining seed with the winner earning the Empire 8's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship, which is set to begin next week.
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In the meantime, read up on the field and learn more about this year's competitors.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: At the conclusion of the regular season, one team stood above all others as the Cardinals were crowned the Empire 8 Regular Season Champions by virtue of their 2-1 win over Nazareth College last weekend. The win was significant in that it marked the team's first win over Nazareth in nearly 30 years while it also secured Fisher its first-ever Empire 8 Regular Season title and the top seed in the four-team tournament. Entering this week, Fisher had never finished higher than the three seed, which it did back in 2009.
WELCOME BACK: It feels good to be back in the Empire 8 Championship. In fact, this will be the team's first appearance in the postseason since 2014 when the Cardinals were the fourth seed. Since the formation of the Empire 8 tournament in 2002, Fisher has played for a conference title six times, however, Fisher has never made it to the title game – a trend this year's team hopes to shatter.
BALANCE IS KEY: If you look at how Fisher compares to other Empire 8 institutions from a statistical standpoint, the Cardinals aren't leading in any one particular category. We haven't scored the most goals and we don't out-shoot our opponents, but we feature a deep lineup that doesn't rely on any one individual to get the job done. Through 16 games this season, the Cardinals have had seven players score a goal and six tally an assist. Opposing teams may be able to shut down one player, but not three or four.
1-2 PUNCH: If balance is key, having a good 1-2 punch can be the difference maker. This season, Fisher boasts one of the more potent combinations in the conference led by sophomore
Carli Kovarik and freshman
Megan Letta. Kovarik, the 2018 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and a First-Team All-Conference selection, leads Fisher with 13 points to date on five goals and a team-leading three assists while Letta has had a significant impact over the course of her freshman campaign with five goals of her own. Letta's biggest moment came last weekend as the Hilton graduate netted the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to lift Fisher to a clinching win.
STEPPING RIGHT IN: What often gets lost in the shuffle this season is that the Cardinals are being piloted by a new coaching staff as
Molly Romano was hired to lead the program just a couple of short weeks before the team's season-opener. After going 2-6-1 to begin the year, Fisher has found its grove under Romano's direction as the Cardinals have not lost since September 28th after going 5-0-2.
SCOUTING UTICA: The Pioneers earned the fourth and final seed in this year's field by virtue of a 10-5-1 overall mark and a 3-3-1 record against Empire 8 opponents. Wednesday's meeting will be the second time that Fisher has hosted Utica as the Cardinals and Pioneers finished in a 2-2 draw back on October 19th. To date, Utica ranks third in the conference with 36 goals while its 1.18 goals against average is the fourth-lowest of any Empire 8 institution. The Pioneers, who are making their second consecutive appearance in the postseason and fourth overall, are led by Mikayla Blumenstock who leads the conference and ranks fifth overall in Division III with 22 goals. Kierra Caissey has put together a solid season with 15 points over 15 games while Sydney Cook and Eliza Ericson have a team-leading five assists on the year.
In goal, Utica is led by Allison Wagner's 10-5-1 mark. Wagner ranks third in the Empire 8 with 104 saves while her .867 save percentage is second among all conference keepers.
SCOUTING HARTWICK: The Hawks earned a share with the Cardinals for the Empire 8 Regular Season Title, however, Fisher was awarded the top overall seed by virtue of its win over Nazareth last weekend. Hartwick, which posted an 11-3-3 mark overall, was led by Tanner Reed's 14 points while Gabrielle Kreppein finished the regular season with 11 points on four goals and three assists.
In goal, Cassandra Robataille carried the load after coming down with 61 saves over nearly 1,600 minutes. Hartwick's backline was formidable all season as the Hawks led the Empire 8 in opponent scoring average at a mere .78 goals against on average.
SCOUTING NAZARETH: The Golden Flyers finished as the third overall seed for the first time since 2015 as the Golden Flyers enter the week having won at least a share of the conference crown 10 times since 1999 – the most of any Empire 8 member past or present. Nazareth, which finished its regular season schedule at 9-5-2, is led by McKayla Hughes' 14 points while Ashley Plane and Caleigh Cahoon each have seven through 16 games.
In goal, Hannah Miller has collected 96 saves and owns a .881 save percentage and a .80 goals against average – both of which are among the leaders in the conference.
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