Women’s football | 28.08.2024 16:00:00

PITTSFORD, NY — Seeking its first Empire 8 title, the St. John Fisher University women’s soccer team begins the 2024 season with two home games at Growney Stadium. Fisher will face Skidmore on Friday at 1 p.m. and Allegheny on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Cardinals finished 8-4-5 overall and 4-0-4 in the Empire 8 last season, losing to rival Nazareth in the league championship game. Head Coach Molly RomanoThe team has reached the Empire 8 final in two of the last three seasons.

“We had a great regular season last year with no losses in the conference,” said Romano, who is entering her sixth season leading the Fisher program. “We really want to build on that momentum. We want to use these early (non-conference) games to prepare for our conference schedule.”

“Our goal is to fight our way into the final again this year and hopefully win it.”

The Cardinals enter the season with a record of 12-0-8 in Empire 8 regular season games since the end of the 2021 season.

Eight starters, three Empire 8 selections return

Fisher has a total of 23 players, eight regulars and three Empire 8 players from 2023 returning, including first-team players Emma Spelman (Senior) and selection for the second team Ryann Dauksza (Junior) and Jackie Gervais (Junior).

Spelman, who scored three goals and had an Empire 8-best nine assists last season, led the Cardinals as a junior with 15 points in 14 games (13 starts). Riley Grimm (forward) and Siobhan McMakin (midfielder) finished second in the team with four goals, while junior midfielder Kate Rachwal had three.

Dauksza, Gervais, Senior Gwen Madden and Juniors Abby Fagnani will anchor the backend of the Cardinals. Fisher also brought in a transfer defender in Junior Cassidy Pearcewho played her first two college seasons at Robert Wesleyan. She was named to the All-ECC second team with the Red Hawks in 2022 and 2023. Abby Dorundaa freshman from Massachusetts, is also expected to contribute.

In goal, Junior Avery Byrnes started all 17 games last season, stopping 75 shots and allowing 14 goals (84.3 save percentage) while stopping 142 shots. Olivia Relyea played in two games and in the second year Sofia Pantoja had an appearance.

Series progress against Skidmore

• Friday’s contest marks the second meeting between St. John Fisher and Skidmore.

• Last year’s competition in Saratoga Springs ended in a 1-1 draw. Jenn Kirker scored the only goal for Fisher.

• Byrnes blocked seven shots in the game and faced 15 shots.

Series progress against Allegheny

• Fisher and Allegheny met for the first time in September 2022. The Cardinals won this time 3-0.

• Kirker, Spelman and Grace Wolsieffer scored for the Cardinals. Byrnes blocked the only shot fired at them.