ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's Empire 8 Conference champion women's soccer team was well represented with Tuesday's release of the E8 all-conference teams. The all-star teams and the individual awards were selected by the league's head coaches.

For Nazareth, senior defender Mallory Ott was named E8 Defensive Player of the Year and freshman Annika Monfort was named E8 Goalkeeper of the Year. In addition, Nazareth's coaching staff, led by head coach Gail Mann, was named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Ott and Monfort were two of Nazareth's five first-team all-star selections, joining graduate students Kristen Prohaska, Lauren Begy and Caleigh Cahoon. Senior midfielder Sydney Moss and junior defender Madison Knowles were named to the second team and freshman defender Grace Palczewski was a third-team choice. Senior Mia Longo was named as Nazareth's representative as E8 Sportswoman of the Year.

Ott, of East Syracuse, N.Y., and Monfort, of Ontario, N.Y., were cornerstones of the Nazareth defense that yielded just three goals in nine conference games. They also posted 10 shutouts in 19 games overall. Ott started all 19 games for the Golden Flyers in 2021 and was chosen MVP of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament following Nazareth's shutout wins over Hartwick and St. John Fisher. Monfort was the Nazareth starter for 17 games in goal and he amassed 99 saves for a 0.84 goals-against average and an .868 save percentage.

Begy, of Rochester, N.Y., Cahoon, of Sloatsburg, N.Y., and Prohaska, of Lockport, N.Y., also were first-team selections for the Golden Flyers in the spring, when Nazareth played an abbreviated schedule. This fall, Begy started regularly and contributed three goals, including one in the E8 semifinal playoff win over Hartwick. Cahoon played in 17 games and had eight points on two goals and four assists. Prohaska played in all 19 games and led the Golden Flyers with 13 points on six goals and one assist.

Moss, of Mooresville, N.C., started 17 games and ranks second on the team in scoring with four goals and one assist for nine points. Knowles, of Albany, N.Y., and Palczewski, of Montgomery, N.Y., each started regularly as an outside backs for the Golden Flyers and helped hold the opposition to less than one goal per game. They each added one assist offensively.

Mann, in her 29th season as head coach, led the Golden Flyers to their 11th Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship in 2021. Nazareth finished 7-1 in regular season league play (and 10-6-3 overall), while the team out-scored Empire 8 opponents, 21-3. It is Mann and her staff's second straight Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year honor and fourth overall.

One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2021 E8 Women's Soccer Sportswoman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. As Nazareth's honoree, Longo, of Rexford, N.Y., consistently distinguished herself as an outstanding sportswoman.
 
2021 Empire 8 Women's Soccer All-Conference Selections
Offensive Player of the Year: Carli Kovarik, Sr., F, St. John Fisher
Defensive Player of the Year: Mallory Ott, Sr., D, Nazareth
Goalkeeper of the Year: Annika Monfort, Fr., GK, Nazareth
Rookie of the Year: Emma Spelman, Fr., F, St. John Fisher
Coaching Staff of the Year: Nazareth, led by Head Coach Gail Mann
 
Empire 8 First Team
Kristen Prohaska, Gr., F, Nazareth
Natalie Ricci, Sr., F, Russell Sage
Carli Kovarik, Sr., F, St. John Fisher
Ro Hernandez, Sr., F, Utica
Abigail Austin, Sr., M, Alfred
Lauren Begy, Gr., M, Nazareth
Caleigh Cahoon, Gr., M, Nazareth
Katline Cartwright, Sr., D, Alfred
Mallory Ott., Sr., D, Nazareth
Jennifer Kirker, Jr., D, St. John Fisher
Annika Monfort, Fr., GK, Nazareth
 
Empire 8 Second Team
Julia Collado, Sr., F, Hartwick
Sarah Potocki, Jr., F, Houghton
Emma Spelman, Fr., F, St. John Fisher
Madi McGuire, So., M, Hartwick
Moriah Steffen, Jr., M, Houghton
Sydney Moss, Sr., M, Nazareth
Lydia Malkiewicz, Gr., M, Russell Sage
Madison Knowles, Jr., D, Nazareth
Samantha Schmidt, Gr., D, Russell Sage
Jessica Aldred, Sr., D, St. John Fisher
Sara Staup, Jr., GK, Hartwick
 
Empire 8 Third Team
Kayla Silverstein, Fr., F, Alfred
Gianna Cacciola, So., F, Hartwick
Sydney Cook, Gr., F, Utica
Tori Cruz, So., M, St. John Fisher
Kayla Rhude, So., M, St. John Fisher
Angela Gonzalez, Sr., M, Russell Sage
Jacinta Kaminski, Gr., M, Utica
Jacey Palmgreen, So., D, Alfred
Nicole Conway, Jr., D, Hartwick
Renee Vito, Sr., D, Keuka
Grace Palczewski, Fr., D, Nazareth
Nevaeh Winston, Fr., GK, Elmira
Hallie Tickell, Sr., GK, St. John Fisher
 
Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year
Claire Squicciarini, Fr., D, Alfred
Cassidy Buchman, Sr., GK, Elmira
Luisa Andrade, Sr, M/F, Hartwick
Reegan Mitchell, Sr., M, Houghton
Renee Vito, Sr., D, Keuka
Mia Longo, Sr., M, Nazareth
Mickaela Buzzy, Sr., GK, Russell Sage
Lakin Woodward, Sr., D, St. John Fisher
Erin Stalder, Jr., M, Utica