No. 5 Seeded Field Hockey Set To Begin Postseason Against Houghton On Saturday

No. 5 St. John Fisher (8-9 overall, 5-4 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Lauren Scorza (5th season at Fisher)

Career Record: 46-47

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

No. 5 Houghton (10-5 overall, 6-3 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Hannah Ogden (8th season at Houghton)

Career Record: 54-69

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

How They Got Here

St. John Fisher: The Cardinals finished the regular season 8-9 overall and 5-4 in Empire 8 Conference play. They own the No. 5 seed for the conference's championship tournament. 

Houghton: The Highlanders finished the regular season 10-5 overall and 6-3 in Empire 8 Conference play. They own the No. 4 seed for the conference's championship tournament. 

With a Win…

The Cardinals would advance to the Empire 8 Tournament semifinals for the 15th consecutive year … They would face No. 1 SUNY Geneseo at Geneseo, N.Y., on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Players To Watch

No. 9 Mary Kate McPhee (Sr., M) – The senior midfielder is a two-time All-Empire 8 selection, earning First Team honors in 2025 and Second Team honors in 2023. She also earned NFHCA All-Region Second Team honors in 2025. McPhee led the Cardinals' offense with 27 points on 11 goals and five assists. She has matched her goal total from last season and is three assists shy of matching her eight assists from 2025. McPhee has scored three goals over the Cardinal's last three games and recorded three multi-goal performances this season against Morrisville, Elmira, and Utica.

No. 8 Aver McLaughlin (Jr., A)  – The junior attacker earned All_Empire 8 Second Team honors in 2025. She ranks second on the team with nine goals and 23 points while tying for the team lead with five assists. McLaughlin has scored three goals over the Cardinals' last four games and recorded two multi-goal performances this season, including a three-goal effort against Morrisville. 

No. 50 Morgan Parrinello (Jr., GK) – The junior goalkeeper has started 16 of 17 games for the Cardinals, recording 92 saves and a .742 save percentage. She has made 18 more saves than last season while improving her save percentage. Parrinello has faced 133 shots this season, 18 more than she faced last year, and allowed 32 goals, three fewer than a year ago, for a 1.85 goals-against average. She has recorded three shutouts and holds an 8-9 record. 

Fisher vs. Houghton Series History

Series Snapshot: The Cardinals have held a 14-4 edge against the Highlanders since 2011.

Postseason History: St. John Fisher and Houghton have met twice in the Empire 8 tournament. In the 2025 first-round matchup, the Cardinals defeated the Highlanders 5-2 to advance to the semifinal. In the 2022 semifinals, the Highlanders defeated the Cardinals 3-0.

Last Meeting: The Cardinals battled the Highlanders to a 3-2 overtime loss on Oct. 14. Fisher took an early 1-0 lead when McPhee scored four minutes into the game. The Cardinals doubled their advantage in the third quarter when Maggie Gocella found the back of the cage seven minutes into the quarter. Houghton responded two minutes later with a goal from Ashley Quinnett to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Highlanders tied the game two minutes into the fourth quarter when Ava Kramp scored. Houghton secured the victory in overtime when Adra Hartzler found the back of the cage four minutes into the period.

Empire 8 Tournament Central 

2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament

October 31st - November 7th, 2026

Higher Seeds Throughout

The 2026 Empire 8 Conference Field Hockey Championship Tournament will feature the conference's top six teams from regular season play. First round action will feature the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The top seed will host the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in one semifinal and the No. 2 seed will host the winner of the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds in the second semifinal on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

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 Field Hockey Championship Tournament.

2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Participating Teams
No. 1 – SUNY Geneseo (9-0 E8, 14-3 Overall)
No. 2 – Hartwick College (8-1 E8, 11-5 Overall)
No. 3 – SUNY Brockport (6-3 E8, 12-4 Overall)
No. 4 – Houghton University (6-3 E8, 10-5 Overall)
No. 5 – St. John Fisher University (5-4 E8, 8-9 Overall)
No. 6 – Utica University (4-5 E8, 4-11 Overall)

2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Schedule

Saturday, Oct. 31 – First Round at Higher Seed)
No. 6 Utica University at No. 3 SUNY Brockport – 2 – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 5 St. John Fisher University at No. 4 Houghton University – 4 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

Wednesday, November 4 - Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
Winner of No. 4 Houghton/No. 5 St. John Fisher at No. 1 SUNY Geneseo – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Winner of No. 3 SUNY Brockport/No. 6 Utica at No. 2 Hartwick College – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

Saturday, November 7 - Championship Final
Winner of Semifinal No. 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal No. 2 – TBA – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player

2026 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship Torchbearer Award Winner


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….