ROCHESTER, NY (Nazathletics.com) - The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2026 All-Conference selections on Tuesday, with seven Golden Flyers earning recognition. Savanna Biehler was named Rookie of the Year, while senior Caitlyn Smithers earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors on top of being named First Team. Kiyomi Mastro joined Biehler and Smithers on the First Team, while Shannon Sgombick and Giuliana Rodriguez earned Second Team honors. Brynn Furbeck and Katriana Walls were Third Team selections. Sgombick was also recognized on the Empire 8 Tomorrow's Leaders Team.

Biehler had an impressive freshman campaign becoming Nazareth's first Rookie of the Year selection since 2022, after leading the team with 14 goals, 9 assists for 37 points. Within the Empire 8 conference, Biehler leads in assists with nine, is fourth in goals (14), and third in points per game (1.95). Biehler's standout performance came against Russell Sage, where she recorded four goals and one assist. Her 37 points also rank 7th in program history for points scored in a single season.
 
Smithers earns her first All-Conference selection of her career, being named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team honoree. She became Nazareth's first Defensive Player of the Year honoree since 2023. Smithers steadied a Golden Flyers' defense to a conference low 11 goals allowed throughout the regular season. Nazareth also held opponents to an average of just 8.5 shots per game, which helped them earn the second seed in the conference tournament. 
 
Mastro rounded out the Golden Flyers' First Team All-Conference selections, marking her first recognition. Despite missing three games due to injury, Mastro made an impact in 14 appearances this season, recording three goals and three assists for nine points. 

Like Mastro, Sgombick also missed time due to injury but still earned Second Team All-Conference honors. In 15 games this season, Sgombick recorded seven goals and two assists for 18 points. She showed up when it mattered most, recording three goals and two assists in the Empire 8 Tournament en route to being named Most Valuable Player. This marks the second All-Conference selection as she previously earned Second Team honors in 2025. Sgombick was also named to the Empire 8 Tomorrow's Leaders Team, an honor awarded to one student-athlete from each member institution. The Empire 8 recognizes student-athletes who distinguish themselves through their leadership and consistently demonstrate the values of competing with honor and integrity while supporting their institution's educational mission.

Coming off an All-Tournament Team selection in 2025, Rodriguez earned a spot on the Empire 8 Second Team in her sophomore season. Rodriguez recorded a career-high nine goals and added five assists for 23 points, ranking second on the team in all categories. Her nine goals was 6^th in the conference. Rodriguez's best game of the season came against Houghton in the semifinals when she had a career high six points on two goals and two assists.

Furbeck and Walls rounded out the Golden Flyers' All-Conference selections, as both earned Third Team honors. Furbeck helped anchor Nazareth's defensive back line alongside Smithers and Makayla Perez. She also contributed offensively, recording two goals and three assists for four points. Walls started all 19 games in goal for the Golden Flyers and led the Empire 8 with a 0.77 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage, Additionally, Walls recorded six shutouts, surpassing her previous career high of one, which she set last season.
 
To stay updated on all things Nazareth Athletics, follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook for the latest news and highlights.