Empire 8 Field Hockey All-Conference List

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – On Wednesday, Empire 8 announced Field Hockey All-Conference selections with Michaela Cushman being honored as Rookie of the Year, as well as being a second-team selection. Audra Mieczkowski earned honors as a first-team selection, while teammates Lydia Coombs and Morgan Russo join Cushman on the second-team list. In addition, Isabel Porterfield was named to the third-team, and Avery Tanton was named as Nazareth's representative Sportsperson of the Year.
 
Cushman started in all 17 games for the Golden Flyers in her freshman debut. She had a total of 10 goals and one assist in conference play. This put her at 21 points total and 2.33 points per game, tied for the second most in the conference. She is also tied for second in most goals on the season, the highest ranked freshman on the list. Cushman also leads the Empire 8 in game-winning goals during conference play with four.
 
Mieczkowski also started in all 17 games for the Golden Flyers as a midfielder. At midfield, Mieczkowski was a key component in Nazareth's offense and defense. She was tied for eighth in the conference in total goals scored at seven, as well as tied for 14^th in number of assists. This put her at 17 points total, tied for eighth in the conference. Mieczkowski also added one game winning goal during conference play.
 
Coombs started in all 17 games for the Golden Flyers as a midfielder. Coombs ended her season with four conference goals (tied for 18^th), and four assists (tied for sixth). Coombs ranked in the top 15 in the conference for total points and top 20 for points per game. Defensively, Coombs tied for eighth in the conference in defensive saves with two.
 
Russo played in 12 games for the Golden Flyers including 11 starts in the net. Russo was fifth in the conference for goals against average, as well as total goals against. She ended conference play in second in save percentage with .813, and fourth in total saves with 74. Russo also tied for third in most shutouts with two.
 
Porterfield started and competed in 16 games for the Golden Flyers at defense/midfield. Porterfield was part of Nazareth's defensive line that held opponents to 18 total goals against. Porterfield's defense helped Nazareth to a 1.33 margin in conference play, sixth in the conference.
 
Tanton is Nazareth's representative on the Sportsperson of the Year Team.  One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2024 E8 Field Hockey Sportsperson 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. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsperson.