No. 5 Seeded Field Hockey Set To Face No. 1 Geneseo In Semifinals

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

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

Career Record: 47-47

• Roster
• Coaching Staff
• Schedule
• Season Stats

No. 1 Geneseo (14-3, 9-0 Empire 8)

Head Coach: Margaret McConnell (9th season at Geneseo)

Career Record: 127-51

• 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. Fisher defeated No. 4 Houghton 2-0 on Saturday in the First Round.

Geneseo: The Knights finished the regular season 14-3 overall and 9-0 in Empire 8 Conference play. They own the No. 1 seed for the conference's championship tournament. 

With a Win…

The Cardinals would advance to the Empire 8 Tournament finals for the eighth time in program history, the last time coming in 2023 … They would face the winner of No. 3 Brockport vs. No. 2 Hartwick at the highest seed remaining. 

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 30 points on 12 goals and six assists. She has one more goal compared to her goal total from last season and is two assists shy of matching her eight assists from 2025. McPhee has scored four goals over the Cardinal's last four games and recorded three multi-goal performances this season against Morrisville, Elmira, and Utica. On Saturday in the Empire 8 First Round against Houghton, McPhee tallied three points on a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win.

No. 8 Avery McLaughlin (Jr., A)  – The junior attacker earned All-Empire 8 Second Team honors in 2025. She ranks second on the team with 10 goals and 25 points while second on the team with five assists. McLaughlin has scored four goals over the Cardinals' last five games and recorded two multi-goal performances this season, including a three-goal effort against Morrisville. On Saturday in the Empire 8 First Round against Houghton, McLaughlin recorded a goal in a 2-0 win.

No. 50 Morgan Parrinello (Jr., GK) – The junior goalkeeper has started 17 of 18 games for the Cardinals, recording 93 saves and a .744 save percentage. She has made 19more saves than last season while improving her save percentage. Parrinello has faced 134 shots this season, 19 more than she faced last year, and allowed 32 goals, three fewer than a year ago, for a 1.75 goals-against average. She has recorded four shutouts and holds a 9-9 record. On Saturday in the Empire 8 First Round against Houghton, Parrinello made one save to secure a 2-0 win and her fourth shutout of the season. 

Fisher vs. Houghton Series History

Series Snapshot: The Knights have held a 10-5 edge against the Cardinals since 2013.

Postseason History: St. John Fisher and Geneseo have met twice in the Empire 8 tournament. In the 2024 semifinals matchup, the Knights defeated the Cardinals 2-0. In the 2025 semifinals, the Knights defeated the Cardinals 6-0. 

Last Meeting: The Cardinals fell to Geneseo, 5-0, on Sept. 26. Fisher held the Knights scoreless through the first half before Geneseo broke through in the third quarter. Halle Senfield scored five minutes into the quarter to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Geneseo extended its advantage into the period, followed by Ava Harman less than a minute later to put the Knights ahead 3-0. With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Olivia Bottoni found the back of cage to make it 4-0. Bottoni added her second goal of the game three minutes later to cap the scoring. 

Empire 8 Tournament Central 

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. 3 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 6 Utica University, 1-0 – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
No. 5 St. John Fisher University defeated No. 4 Houghton University, 2-0 – VIDEO/LIVE STATS

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