No. 4-Seeded Men's Soccer Set To Begin Postseason Against Utica On Saturday

No. 4 St. John Fisher (6-8-2 overall, 6-3-2 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Jack Burgasser (6th season at St. John Fisher)

Career Record: 42-30-22 

Statistical Leaders: Goals (Reese Powers and Jack Tamburino, 4), Assists (Blake Pettocchi, 4), Points (Powers and Tamburino, 8), Saves (Parker Stusek, 59), Shutouts (Stusek, 7)

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

No. 5 Utica (8-5-4 overall, 5-2-4 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Brian Marcantonio (12th season at Utica)

Career Record: 71-106-26

Statistical Leaders: Goals (Byamungu Mugushu, 14), Assists (Mugushu and Carter Cookingham, 5), Points (Mugushu, 33), Saves (Zachary Accetta, 41), Shutouts (Accetta and Asim Gacic, 1)

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

Six Things About Fisher

1 - The Cardinals, who began the season 0-7-1, enter the postseason as the hottest team in the Empire 8, having won six of their last eight contests and four in a row. Fisher went 6-1-1 in October to secure the No. 4 seed and a home contest in the E8 Tournament. 

2 - After allowing 23 goals over their first eight games, the Cardinals have allowed just one (against Brockport on Oct. 11) during their 6-1-1 surge. They have blanked their last four opponents. 

3 - Freshman goalkeeper Parker Stusek leads the Empire 8 with seven shutouts. He has made 59 saves over 14 contests. 

4 - The Cardinals have posted a winning record in E8 regular-season play every year under head coach Jack Burgasser. They have won at least six conference regular-season games in three of the last four years.

5 -  The Cardinals are looking to win back-to-back Empire 8 Championships for the first time in program history and their fourth overall. Last season, Fisher advanced past Russell Sage, Brockport (in penalty kicks) and Elmira to clinch the second NCAA Tournament berth in program history. 

6 - Senior midfielder Reese Powers and junior forward Jack Tamburino have been Fisher’s top offensive threats this season, as they sit atop the team with four goals and eight points apiece.

Fisher vs. Utica Series History

Series Snapshot: The Cardinals own a 15-8-3 edge against Utica since 2002. 

Last Meeting: Utica scored four unanswered goals after Fisher jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in a 4-2 victory at Growney Stadium in September. Tamburino and senior midfielder Tommy Mullane scored for Fisher in that contest. 

Empire 8 Tournament Central 

The 2025 Empire 8 Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament will feature the conference's top eight teams from regular season play. First round/quarterfinal action will feature the No. 1 seed hosting the No. 8 seed, No. 2 seed hosting the No. 7 seed, No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed on Saturday, Nov. 1.

The winner of the No. 1 and No. 8 game will take on the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 game in one semifinal and the winner of the No. 2 and No. 7 game will take on the winner of the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds in the second semifinal on Wednesday, Nov. 5, with both games played at the higher seed.

The two semifinal winners will meet on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the highest remaining seed in the E8 Championship. The Empire 8 Champion will earn an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Tournament.

2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Participants
No. 1 – SUNY Geneseo (28 points, 9-1-1 E8, 11-5-2 Overall)
No. 2 – SUNY Brockport (26 points, 8-1-2 E8, 9-4-3 Overall)
No. 3 – Elmira College (24 points, 7-1-3 E8, 9-3-5 Overall)
No. 4 – St. John Fisher University (20 points, 6-3-2 E8, 6-8-2 Overall)
No. 5 – Utica University (19 points, 5-2-4 E8, 8-5-4 Overall)
No. 6 – Nazareth University (16 points, 5-5-1 E8, 7-6-3 Overall)
No. 7 – Russell Sage College (14 points, 4-5-2 E8, 10-6-2 Overall)
No. 8 – Hartwick College (13 points, 4-6-1 E8, 5-9-2 Overall)

2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Schedule

Saturday, November 1 – First Round 
No. 8 Hartwick at No. 1 SUNY Geneseo – 1 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 7 Russell Sage at No. 2 SUNY Brockport – 1 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 6 Nazareth at No. 3 Elmira – 1 p.m.  – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 5 Utica at No. 4 St. John Fisher – 6 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
 
Wednesday, November 5 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed) 
Winner of SUNY Geneseo/Hartwick vs. Winner of St. John Fisher/Utica – TBD – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Winner of SUNY Brockport/Russell Sage vs. Winner of ELmira/Nazareth– TBD – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

Saturday, November 8 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal Game 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed – TBD – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

Site: Higher Seeds for all games

Admission
$10.00 - Adults
$2.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12


For the most up to date information on this year's championship, follow the Empire 8 Conference on X and Instagram (@Empire8).

The 2025 Season In Photos….