ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Three Nazareth women's soccer players -- senior Julie Birbilis and juniors Rachel Cushman and Carly Schurman -- have been named as first-team all-stars for 2007 by the Empire 8 Conference.

The all-star teams, released today, were chosen through voting by the league's nine head coaches.

In addition to the three first-teamers, juniors Kelly Finn and Emily Zurschmit were named to the second team and freshman goalie Hillary Simon made honorable mention. Also, freshman midfielder Erica Conte was selected Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and senior Caity Richardson was Nazareth's representative as E8 Sportswoman of the Year.

Birbilis, of Ballston Spa, N.Y. and a graduate of Ballston Spa High School, and Cushman, of Rochester and a graduate of Irondequoit High School, each were selected as midfielders, while Schurman, of Baldwinsville, N.Y. and a graduate of C.W. Baker High School, was selected as a defender.

Birbilis, a four-year starter for the Golden Flyers, contributed three assists in 19 starts while playing mostly outside midfield. Likewise, Cushman started regularly at outside midfield and was second on the team in scoring with 17 points on five goals and a team-high seven assists.

Schurman served as a defensive fixture for the Golden Flyers, who posted a goals-against average of 0.72 with nine shutouts in 19 games.

Finn, a forward from Cortland, N.Y. and a graduate of Homer High School, was Nazareth's leading scorer in 2007 with 21 points on 10 goals and one assist. Zurschmit, a defender from Camden, N.Y. and a graduate of Camden High School, started all 19 games and contributed one assist.

Conte, a midfielder from Caledonia, N.Y. and a graduate of Caldeonia-Mumford High School, had five goals and two assists. She also delivered the decisive penalty kick in Nazareth's E8 semifinal match at Stevens that propelled Nazareth into the championship game.

Simon, of Homer, N.Y. and a graduate of Homer High School, started all 19 games in goal for the Golden Flyers and yielded only 13 goals for a 0.72 goals-against average and an .862 save percentage with six shutouts.

Nazareth brought a record of 11-6-2 as the third seed for this week's ECAC Upstate Tourtnament. The Golden Flyers, runners-up to Ithaca in the Empire 8, host Keuka Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Empire 8 All-Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Chelsey Feldman, Ithaca
Defensive Player of the Year: Nikki Rice, Ithaca
Rookie of the Year: Erica Conte, Nazareth
Coach of the Year: Mindy Quigg, Ithaca

First Team
Forwards
Winnie Adrien, so. Ithaca
Chelsey Feldman, jr. Ithaca
Ashley Granger, jr. Utica

Midfielders
Julie Birbilis, sr. Nazareth
Rachel Cushman, jr. Nazareth
Amy Scheffer, so. Ithaca

Backs
Salme Cook, jr. Stevens
Joanne Gueverra, sr. Utica
Beth Hoover, sr. Ithaca
Nikki Rice, jr. Ithaca
Carly Schurman, jr. Nazareth

Goalie
Ashley Kaufman, sr. Utica

Second Team
Forwards
Kelly Finn, jr. Nazareth
Kristen Mellan, sr. Hartwick
Kelly Zeppetella, jr. St. John Fisher

Midfielders
Dani Davis, sr. St. John Fisher
Colleen Masterson, sr. Ithaca
Siena York-Carr, sr. Stevens

Backs
Danielle LaFrance, jr. RIT
Sara Roeder, sr. Stevens
Emily Zurschmit, jr. Nazareth

Goalie
Aimee Meacham, sr. Ithaca

Honorable Mention
Forwards: Christina Fulgencio, Stevens; Katria Misilo, Stevens; Danielle Smith, Utica; Laurie Teske, Elmira; Emily Traversi, RIT
Midfielders: Nicole DePietro, Alfred; Leslie Kallberg, Stevens; Erica Main, RIT; Emily Mogk, Ithaca; Jessica Talbot, Elmira; Kristen Vasta, Utica
Backs: Kathleen Appel, Elmira; Kiersten Drexler, St. John Fisher; Andrea Janda, Ithaca; Marissa Mackay, Hartwick; Kelly Regan, Utica; Katelynn Stewart, Stevens; Yaicha Winters, Alfred
Goalies: Ashley Conti, RIT; Hillary Simon, Nazareth

Sportswoman of the Year
Meredith Ragan, jr. Alfred
Jessica Talbot, sr. Elmira
Brittany Pine, jr. Hartwick
Shannon Ruegger, jr. Ithaca
Caity Richardson, sr. Nazareth
Anna Kolnik, sr. RIT
Jenny Mauro, so. St. John Fisher
Erin Brennan, jr. Stevens
Amanda Lauze, sr. Utica