ROCHESTER, NY – (Nazathletics.com) – On Wednesday the Empire 8 Conference announced the 2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team with Nazareth's Shannon Sgombick (MVP), along with Savanna Biehler, Lillian Fejko, and goalkeeper Katriana Walls being honored.

The second-seeded Golden Flyers won the Empire 8 title by way of a quarterfinal win over #7 Utica 2-0, a 5-2 victory over #3 Houghton in the semifinals, before downing #4 Geneseo 3-1 in the finals.

Sgombick was named the MVP after notching a career-high five points on two goals and one assist in the championship game. She also had a goal and an assist in the semifinal win over Houghton.

Biehler recorded at least a point in all three tournament games. She had the game-winning goal against Utica in the quarterfinals and also assisted the other goal. In the semifinal win over Houghton she added an assist. Biehler was a force in the title game, scoring Nazareth's first goal and assisting on the other goal.

Fejko was a steadying presence in the midfield throughout the tournament. One of the biggest moments she had was in the title game clearing a ball off the line in the second half to keep Geneseo off the board with the score 2-0.

Walls had a great tournament in net, opening up with a shutout and collecting six saves in the quarterfinal win over Utica. In the semifinals she recorded a career-high nine saves in a 5-2 win over Houghton. In the title game, she made had five saves and didn't allow a goal until the 85^th minute. 

2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Carly Chupick, Sr., D, SUNY Geneseo (Northport, NY/Northport)
Claire Woolingham, Jr., D, SUNY Geneseo (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East)
Ella Yartym, Jr., F, SUNY Geneseo (Bath, NY/Haverling)
Taylor Curyto, Sr., M, Houghton (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili)
Elena Esh, Sr., F, Houghton (Gordonville, PA/Linville Hill Christian)
Savanna Biehler, Fr., F, Nazareth (Fairport, NY/Fairport)
Lillian Fejko, Sr., M, Nazareth (Andover, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional)
Shannon Sgombick, Sr., F, Nazareth (Florida, NY/S.S. Seward Institute) *
Katrina Walls, Jr., GK, Nazareth (Fairhaven, NJ/Marine Academy of Science and Technology)
Francesca Logrippo, Sr., M, St. John Fisher (Latham, NY/Shaker)
Carli Maltbie, Sr., M, St. John Fisher (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna)
 
* Named 2026 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Most Valuable Player