Hilton, NY — Russell Sage College women's soccer team won the program's very first Empire 8 Championship title on April 17 as they defeated Utica College, 2-1. One the heels of the championship title, the Gators were honored with four players earning recognition as member of the All-Tournament Team. Headlining the honorees was junior forward Hallie Klosterman (Modena, NY/Wallkill) as she was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Tournament.
Also honored for their efforts in the tournament were junior forward Natalie Ricci (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), junior midfielder Angela Gonzalez (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central), and senior defender Samantha Schmidt (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), and senior midfielder Lydia Malkiewicz (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central).
Klosterman, who was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performance over the course of the tournament, was also an Empire 8 First Team selection. She had two goals, a game-winner and an assist in the team's semifinals victory over Alfred University. She finished the season with five goals, and had two game-winning goals with an assist. On her career, Klosterman has 32 points on 11 goals with 10 assists. She ranks 17th in career assists in 41 matches played.
Ricci, who earned a selection this spring as the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Player of the Week, caps her second season with the team having added four goals, including one game-winner. She boasts 33 career points on 14 goals with five assists in just 19 games played.
Gonzalez added a pair of assists this year and was a started for the Gators this season. She now has three goals and five assists during her Gators career having played in 44 games.
Malkiewicz added four points this season and was named to the Second Team at the midfield. She assisted on the team's first goal in the Empire 8 title match. Over her career, she appeared in 60 matches with 22 points. She added seven goals with eight assists and had a pair of game-winning goals.
