Top-Seeded Women's Soccer Faces Elmira In First Round Of E8 Tournament Saturday

No. 1 St. John Fisher (14-2, 10-1 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Molly Romano (8th season)

Career Record: 73-36-20

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Stats

No. 8 Elmira (4-11-1, 4-6-1 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Bill Kelly (25th season)

Career Record: 18-40-9 at Elmira, 201-197-36 overall (includes 13 seasons at Bard and seven at Saint Benedict)

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Stats

How They Got Here

St. John Fisher: The defending Empire 8 champions went 14-2 overall and 10-1 in Empire 8 play during the regular season, claiming the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament for just the third time in program history. They had won 10 straight games since a Sept. 12 loss to Allegheny and 17 consecutive games against E8 opponents since October of last season until falling 2-1 to Geneseo in the regular-season finale on Saturday. 

Fisher ended the regular season atop the conference in goals (48), assists (36) and scoring margin (+30). The Cardinals allowed the second-fewest goals in the conference (13) and recorded seven shutouts. 

Elmira: Elmira went 4-11-1 overall and 4-6-1 in Empire 8 Conference play during the regular season. This marks just the sixth time that Elmira has qualified for the Empire 8 Championship Tournament. 

With A Win…

The Cardinals would…. tie the 1982 team for the program's single-season wins record (15)… advance to face No. 4 Geneseo or No. 5 Brockport in the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 4… secure a spot in the Empire 8 semifinals for the sixth year in a row and 13th time overall.

Players To Watch

#0 Isabella Ayers (So., GK) – Ayers played and started in all 16 games during the regular season, making 52 saves and allowing just 13 goals. She is tied for second in the conference in shutouts (7) and ranks third in goals against average (0.81). 

#10 Emily Woolingham (Jr., F) – The top offensive player in the Empire 8 and beyond, Woolingham stands atop the conference in goals (16) and total points (38) entering the postseason. She ranks sixth and ninth nationally in goals and points, respectively. Woolingham, who has scored in six consecutive games and boasts four multi-goal performances this year, has recorded at least one point in all but two of Fisher's 16 games. Her 16 goals and 38 total points rank third on the Cardinals' single-season top five lists for those categories. 

#11 Olivia Kalil (Jr., F) – Kalil has 20 total points – the second most on the team – on eight goals and four assists. In September, she scored three times against SUNY Poly and twice against Hartwick to become the first Fisher player since at least 2000 to score five goals over a two-game span. Her performance against Hartwick made her the 11th Cardinal since 2000 to record a three-goal game. 

Fisher vs. Elmira History

Series Snapshot: The Cardinals are 19-5 against Elmira since 2002. They have won their last 10 games against the Soaring Eagles. 

Postseason Meetings: Saturday's contest will mark the first postseason meeting between Fisher and Elmira. 

Last Meeting: The Cardinals blanked Elmira 4-0 on the road back on Sept. 30. Woolingham and Kalil each had a goal and an assist, while sophomore midfielder Morgan Tara and sophomore defender Gianna Conklin accounted for Fisher's other two goals. Elmira did not record a shot on goal in the contest. 

Empire 8 Tournament Central

The 2026 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, Oct. 31.

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. 4, with both games played at the higher seed.

The two semifinal winners will meet on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the highest remaining seed in the E8 Championship. The Empire 8 Champion will earn an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship Tournament.

2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Participants
No. 1 – St. John Fisher University (30 points, 10-1-0 E8, 14-2-0 Overall)
No. 2 – Nazareth University (25 points, 8-2-1 E8, 10-3-2 Overall)
No. 3 – Houghton University (23 points, 7-2-2 E8, 10-5-2 Overall)
No. 4 – SUNY Geneseo (23 points, 7-2-2 E8, 9-4-3 Overall)
No. 5 – SUNY Brockport (23 points, 7-2-2 E8, 11-3-3 Overall)
No. 6 – Hartwick College (17 points, 5-4-2 E8, 5-7-4 Overall)
No. 7 – Utica University (14 points, 3-3-5 E8, 6-5-6 Overall)
No. 8 – Elmira College (13 points, 4-6-1 E8, 4-11-1 Overall)

2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Schedule

Saturday, October 31 – First Round (at Higher Seed)
No. 8 Elmira College at No. 1 St. John Fisher University – 6 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 7 Utica University at No. 2 Nazareth University – 11 a.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 6 Hartwick College at No. 3 Houghton University – 1 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 5 SUNY Brockport at No. 4 SUNY Geneseo – 3 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
 
Wednesday, November 4 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed) 
Winner of No. 1 St. John Fisher/No. 8 Elmira vs. Winner of No. 4 SUNY Geneseo vs. No. 5  SUNY Brockport – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Winner of No. 2 Nazareth/No. 7 Utica vs. Winner of No. 3 Houghton/No. 6 Hartwick – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

Saturday, November 7 - Championship Final (at Highest Remaining Seed)
Winner of Semifinal No. 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal No. 2 – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player

2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Torchbearer Award Winner

Site: Higher Seeds for all games

Admission
$10.00 - Adults
$5.00 - Seniors
$2.00 - Students with ID (from competing institution)
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 2026 Season In Photos…