RSC Field Hockey Squad excited for 2023 season to open

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Rochester, NY--RSC's field hockey team will open the new season this week in action on September 2 at nearby Union College. The Gators are looking to make a run at Hartwick College, who is looking to repeat as Empire 8 Champions. E8 league play begins on Sept. 20. The top five teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with first round action on Monday, Oct. 30, semifinal contests on Thursday, Nov. 2 and the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship.

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.

2023 Empire 8 Field Hockey Players to Watch

MeganRae Burke, Elmira, Sr., GK, Medford Lakes, NJ/Saint Joseph – Burke led the Empire 8 with 183 saves in 2022, including four outings with at least 19 stops.

Selena Emery, St. John Fisher, Jr., D, Greene, NY/Greene – Emery, the 2021 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year, is a two-time All-E8 first team selection.

Alyssa Fitzgerald, Russell Sage, Gr., F, Queensbury, NY/Queensbury – An E8 Player to Watch for the second straight season, Fitzgerald led the Gators in scoring last season with 16 points on seven goals and two assists.

Libby Fortin, Hartwick, Sr., M, State College, PA/State College Area – Fortin was named the 2022 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year, All-E8 first team selection and was a NFHCA second team all-region pick. She led a Hartwick defensive unit that allowed nine goals in 11 games against E8 opponents last season.

Jace Hunzinger, Houghton, Jr., F, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy – Hunzinger, the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and earned All-E8 second team accolades for the second straight season in 2022. She led the E8 with 18 assists and was second nationally in assists per game (0.9).

Makaela Mills, Keuka, Sr., M, Afton, NY/Afton – Mills, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2022 after recording 23 points in 2021 on five goals and a program-record 13 assists. She has 12 goals, 24 assists and 48 points in three seasons.

Mackenzie Mix, Utica, Jr., M, Camden, NY/Camden – Mix, a repeat E8 Player to Watch, garnered All-Empire 8 first team accolades after recording 26 points on 11 goals and four assists in 2022. A three-sport star, Mix was also the 2022 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Track Athlete and Rookie of the Year as a standout sprinter.

Avery Tanton, Nazareth, So., D, Vestal, NY/Vestal – Tanton garnered All-Empire 8 third team accolades in 2022. She was one of only two first year players to earn all-league accolades and tallied six goals on the season.

Team Capsules (Sorted by 2022 Final Standings)

Hartwick
The Hawks will look to defend their Empire 8 title in 2023 and win their third league championship in five seasons for reigning E8 Coach of the Year Erin Autera. Hartwick returns 20 players from last season's team that went undefeated in Empire 8 play and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Including the postseason, Hartwick out-scored E8 opponents 65-9 in 11 games. Hartwick returns 17 players and seven starters from last season but will have to replace four-time All-Empire 8 selection, 2022 E8 Player of the Year, NFHCA Second Team All-American and 2022-23 Empire 8 Senior Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Sydney Gagnon in addition to E8 Championship Most Valuable Player Leah Tolley. Senior midfielder Libby Fortin, the 2022 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and NFHCA All-Region selection returns for the Hawks, while All-E8 and NFHCA All-Region first team selection Julie Ruzzi will lead the offense. Ruzzi was second in the league with 14 assists last season, while senior Holly Calore tallied 10 goals last season to earn All-E8 third team honors. Defender Emily Strutt, an All-E8 second team pick, will play an even greater role on the defensive end.

St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to get back to the top of the E8 standings after having its 24-game winning streak in league play snapped, while falling in the league semifinals last season. The Cardinals will have seven All-Empire 8 selections from 2022 back, including juniors Selena Emery and Emma Cooper. Emery, the 2021 E8 Defensive Player of the Year, earned All-E8 first team accolades for the second straight season, while Cooper, also a first team pick, led the Cardinals in scoring with 27 points on 10 goals and seven assists. Junior forward Molly Fisher, an All-E8 second team pick, returns after scoring a team-high 12 goals in 2022, while junior defender Rileigh Luste (second team), third team midfielders Sam Choate and Audrey Grieb and senior goalkeeper Sophia Trozzi will be counted on to lead the way for the Cardinals in 2023.

Houghton
Houghton enjoyed its best season in program history in 2022, winning 14 games, including its first two postseason contests to advance to the Empire 8 Championship game. The Highlanders have 10 players and eight starters from last season's squad returning, including 2022 All-Empire 8 second team selections Jace Hunzinger, Bekah Davie, Deborah Cross, Sara Carter and Madison Tadusz. Hunzinger, the 2021 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year led the E8 with 18 assists and was second nationally in assists per game (0.9) last season. She has 13 goals and 30 assists for 56 points in two seasons. Davie was second in the conference last season and is top returning scorer in the league having tallied 18 goals and 39 points. Cross added 23 points, while Carter will lead the defensive unit. Tadusz set a program mark with 14 wins in goal and had a 2.01 goals against average and five shutouts. Head Coach Hannah Ogden has also brought in a well-rounded group of newcomers that is ready to contribute.

Utica
The Pioneers advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament for the fourth straight season in 2022 and return 14 players and eight starters. Up front, Utica returns graduate student Shannon Jedreicich and senior Alyssa Pisano, who tallied 28 points on 12 goals and four assists to earn All-E8 second team accolades. Junior midfielder Mackenzie Mix, an All-Empire 8 first team pick added 11 goals and 26 points last season and is a multiple E8 Champion as a sprinter on the track. who recorded three goals and 10 assists. Defensively, All-Empire 8 third team selection Madison Ranalli is back. Head Coach Nikki Hobiaca has a strong group of newcomers ready to contribute.

Keuka
The Wolves will look to build off their first postseason berth as an Empire 8 member in 2022. Head Coach Erika Profenno has all 11 starters from last back in addition to a talented recruiting class. Keuka will have leaders at all levels of the field with Kirstin Billings, Makaela Mills, Erin Patterson and Jillian McGinley as upperclassmen. Mills earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2022 after recording 23 points in 2021 on five goals and a program-record 13 assists. She has 12 goals, 24 assists and 48 points in three seasons. Erin Patterson led the Wolves with 11 goals in 2022, while McGinley garnered All-E8 third team accolades on the defensive end. Goalkeeper Jordan Nichols made 163 saves last season.

Nazareth
Nazareth will look to get back to the postseason in 2023 after being eliminated on the final day of the regular season in 2022. Fourteen letterwinners and eight starters return for the Golden Flyers in 2023. Sophomore Avery Tanton returns after earning All-Empire 8 third team accolades in 2022. She was one of only two first-year players to earn all-conference honors, tallying six goals from the defensive end. Sophomore midfielder Audra Mieczkowski, junior midfielder Madison Chodkowski and sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Halliday are back to play a greater role for Nazareth in 2023. Halliday made 142 saves and recorded a .780 save percentage last season. She had two games with at least 25 saves.

Russell Sage
The Gators of Russell Sage return 11 players from last season's team. Graduate student Alyssa Fitzgerald returns after leading the Gators in scoring with 16 points on seven goals and two assists in 2022. Classmate Sara O'Connor has 54 career points, while junior defender Megan Daniels will be counted on to play an even greater role for the Gators in 2023. Head Coach Nick Pontari has brought in a talented group of newcomers, including graduate students Amy Stevens and Alexa Wentz.

Elmira
The Soaring Eagles will look to make a postseason push for new head coach Jess Galatioto. Senior Jenna Ellis and classmate MeganRae Burke will be counted on to lead the Soaring Eagles. Burke led the Empire 8 with 183 saves in 2022, including four games with at least 19 stops. Elmira will be extremely young in 2023, with 14 newcomers, including 12 underclassmen.

Final 2022 Empire 8 Field Hockey Standings
Hartwick (12-7, 9-0 E8) – League Champions
St. John Fisher (8-11 7-2 E8)
Houghton (14-6, 7-2 E8)
Utica (8-10, 6-3 E8)
Washington & Jefferson (6-10, 5-3 E8)
Keuka (6-13, 4-5 E8)
Nazareth (4-15, 4-5 E8)
Medaille (3-13, 2-7 E8)
Russell Sage (2-13, 1-8 E8)
Elmira (1-14, 0-9 E8)

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube.