Players To Watch
St. John Fisher
Ellie Leisen (Jr., A) – Leisen, who had her 2025 season cut short due to an injury after a strong start, has become an offensive force for the Cardinals this season. She leads the team with 44 goals, 34 assists and 78 total points, all of which mark career highs. Leisen is seventh on Fisher’s single-season assists list and tied for eighth on its single-season points list entering postseason play. Named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week four times, including in each of the last three weeks, she has recorded five or more points in 10 games and erupted for a career-high 10 on four goals and six assists in a 22-1 victory over Hartwick last weekend.
Dharma Makarowsky (Sr., A) – Makarowsky has had a breakout senior season, as she has set career highs in all three major offensive categories with 55 total points on 38 goals and 17 assists. She surpassed 100 points for her collegiate career this past weekend in a 22-1 victory over Hartwick with three goals and an assist. Makarowsky had four or more points in six of the Cardinals’ 17 regular-season contests. Additionally, she leads St. John Fisher with 11 free-position goals on 20 attempts.
Chelsea Lopata (Jr., A) – Despite missing the Cardinals’ first five games, Lopata stands third on the team with 49 points on 33 goals and 16 assists. She has had four points or more in seven of the 12 games in which she has played, including a career-high 10 on four goals and six helpers in a road victory over Alfred on April 4.
Kaley Griffin (Sr., M) – Griffin has once again been productive all over the field for the Cardinals. She enters the postseason with 44 points on 33 goals and 11 assists to go with 68 draw controls, tied for the team lead, 21 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. She ranks eighth in program history with 128 career goals and ninth with 149 career draw controls.
Maddie Lowney (Sr., D) – Lowney, the best defensive player in program history and one of the most productive in all of Division III, has been nothing short of spectacular this season. She broke the program and Empire 8 Conference record for career caused turnovers and bested her single-season program record in the same category. She has 53 caused turnovers this season and 156 for her career. Lowney also leads the team with 55 ground balls and is tied for the team lead with 68 draw controls. The two-time Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year is the only player in program history to have more than 150 caused turnovers, 250 draw controls and 200 ground balls.
Utica
Maria Stuhlman (Jr., M) – Stuhlman leads the Pioneers with 46 goals, 22 assists, 68 total points, 44 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers and 74 draw controls. The all-around midfielder has been a three-year starter and is a former E8 Rookie of the Year winner.
Alyssa Specchio (So., A) – Specchio has 63 points on 44 goals and 19 assists. She had eight points on five goals and three assists in Utica’s E8 first-round win over Hartwick and a career-high nine on two goals and seven assists against Keuka earlier this season.
Alexis Alteri (Sr., M) – Alteri has caused 21 turnovers, tied for the team lead, and recovered 41 ground balls over 17 games this season. She has also been a key contributor offensively with 31 points on 24 goals and seven helpers.
