No. 2-Seeded Women's Soccer Faces No. 3-Seeded Nazareth Wednesday With Trip To E8 Finals On The Line

No. 2 St. John Fisher (11-4-2 overall, 9-1-1 Empire 8 reg. season)

Head Coach: Molly Romano (7th season at St. John Fisher)

Career Record: 57-33-20 

Statistical Leaders: Goals (Emily Woolingham, 10), Assists (Maddie Wania, 8), Points (Woolingham, 27), Saves (Avery Byrnes, 30), Solo Shutouts (Brynes, 5)

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

No. 3 Nazareth (9-6-3 overall, 6-3-2 Empire 8 reg. season)

Head Coach: Gail Mann (33rd season at Nazareth)

Career Record: 378-173-81

Statistical Leaders: Goals (Tatum Overton, 7), Assists (Alice O'Connor), Points (Overton, 16), Saves (Delaney Malone, 36), Solo Shutouts (Malone, 4)

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

How They Got Here

St. John Fisher: The Cardinals advanced to the E8 semifinals with a 1-0 victory over Houghton in the first round on Saturday at Growney Stadium. Senior defender Abby Fagnani scored her first collegiate goal in the 67th minute on an assist from senior forward Madelyn Wania, and the Cardinals held Houghton to just seven shots (one on goal). The victory marked the Cardinals’ fourth all-time in the Empire 8 Tournament and first against a team other than Alfred. 

Nazareth: Giuliana Rodriguez scored twice to lead Nazareth to a 3-0 victory over No. 6-seeded SUNY Geneseo on Saturday at Golden Flyer Stadium. The Golden Flyers limited the Knights to just one shot on goal. 

With A Win… 

St. John Fisher would… advance to the Empire 8 championship game for the third time under head coach Molly Romano… record its first postseason win over Nazareth… reach 12 wins, the fourth-most in a single season in program history… start a two-game winning streak against Nazareth for the first time since 1992-93. 

Nazareth would… advance to the E8 championship game for the 18th time in program history… advance to the E8 championship game for the fifth year in a row. 

St. John Fisher vs. Nazareth History

Series Snapshot: Nazareth owns a 33-4-5 lead in the all-time series, which began in 1988. Two of the Cardinals’ four wins over the Golden Flyers have come under Romano. 

Postseason Meetings: The Golden Flyers own a 4-0 record against the Cardinals in the E8 Tournament with wins in 2023, 2021, 2009 and 2005. 

Last Meeting: Sophomore forward Emily Woolingham scored twice as the St. John Fisher women's soccer team wrapped up the regular season with a 2-1 victory over Nazareth on Oct. 29. 

Seven Things About Fisher

1 - The Cardinals enter the semifinals with 11 shutouts, their most in a season since at least 2000. Senior goalkeeper Avery Byrnes leads Fisher with five solo shutouts, while freshman Isabella Ayers has three. 

2 - The Cardinals lead the conference in scoring margin (44-8), goals (44), assists (44) and points (132). They have allowed the fewest goals (8) in the E8. 

3 - Forward Emily Woolingham has a strong case to become just the second player in program history to win the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year award. The sophomore currently paces the conference with 27 points on 10 goals (tied for second in E8) and seven assists (second in E8). 

4 - Woolingham’s 27 points stand fifth on Fisher’s single-season list. Additionally, she’s the first Cardinal to reach double-digit goals in a season since Carli Kovarik did so in 2021. 

5 - Wania leads the Empire 8 with eight assists. She’s third in the conference in total points (22) and tied for fifth in goals (7). 

6 - The Cardinals' nine regular-season Empire 8 victories this year marked their most ever as a member of the conference. 

7 - Romano has led the Cardinals to three 10-plus win seasons, including two in a row, since taking over the program in 2019.

Empire 8 Tournament Central 

The 2025 Empire 8 Conference Women'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 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament.

2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Participants
No. 1 – SUNY Brockport (31 points, 10-0-1 E8, 12-1-4 Overall)
No. 2 – St. John Fisher University (28 points, 9-1-1 E8, 10-4-2 Overall)
No. 3 – Nazareth University (20 points, 6-3-2 E8, 8-6-3 Overall)
No. 4 – Hartwick College (19 points, 5-2- E8, 8-3-6 Overall)
No. 5 – Utica University (19 points, 5-2-4 E8, 8-5-5 Overall)
No. 6 – SUNY Geneseo (19 points, 5-2-4 E8, 5-5-7 Overall)
No. 7 – Houghton University (17 points, 5-4-2 E8, 11-4-3 Overall)
No. 8 – Alfred University (11 points, 3-6-2 E8, 7-9-2 Overall)

2025 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Schedule

Saturday, November 1 – 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
 
Wednesday, November 5 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
No. 4 Hartwick at No. 1 SUNY Brockport – 4 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 3 Nazareth at No. 2 St. John Fisher – 6 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

Saturday, November 8 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal Game 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed – TBA – 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….