Courtesy of Empire8.com
ROCHESTER, NY – Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player Tatum Overton scored twice and Makaelynn Neivel tacked on an insurance goal on Saturday at Golden Flyer Stadium to help Nazareth defeat St. John Fisher 3-0 for its third straight Empire 8 title in the 2023 league championship game. Goalkeeper Annika Monfort made 10 saves, stretching her streak of not allowing a goal in league play to over 800 minutes.
The last goal that Monfort allowed in conference play was the very first conference game of the season against Hartwick on September 23. She also earned the Empire 8 Torchbearer Award, given to the junior or senior participating in the championship game with the highest GPA. The Ontario, NY native holds a 3.99 GPA in Visual Communication Design.
The Golden Flyers also won the title in 2022, 1-0 over Utica and in 2021, 3-0 over Fisher. With the Empire 8 Championship, head coach Gail Mann now has 13 total (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2022).
Nazareth is now 8-4-6 on the season and advances to the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship by way of the Empire 8 automatic bid. The Golden Flyers will learn their opponent and location on Monday at 1:30 p.m. for the selection show — tune into NCAA.com to watch.
Monfort needed to come up big in the third minute as she sprawled out to save a shot from Emma Spelman inside the 18-yard box. The junior goalkeeper has now gone all six Empire 8 Tournament games, 540 minutes, without surrendering a goal
In the 13th minute, Nazareth was able to get on the board as Grace Lanzetta sent a diagonal cross in over top of the defense and Overton popped the shot over the oncoming keeper for the goal.
The score remained 1-0 at the half.
Overton took advantage of Fisher’s goalkeeper being off her line to get her second goal of the game and push the No. 1 seed’s lead to 2-0. The Watertown, NY native took a pass from Shannon Sgombick and found the upper 90. Coupled with her two goals in the semifinals, Overton had four for the tournament.
Despite the Cardinals holding a 23-16 edge in shots, Nazareth’s defense and Monfort were able to keep Fisher off the board.
Makaelynn Neivel sealed the game for the Golden Flyers in the 80th minute, blasting a shot from 40-yards out over the Fisher goalkeeper and under the bar. It was Neivel’s first goal of the season.
2023 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Tatum Overton, So., F, Nazareth
2023 Empire 8 Women’s Soccer Championship Schedule
Saturday, October 28 – First Round
No. 6 Alfred and No. 3 Utica tie, 0-0 (Alfred advances on PKs, 3-2) – BOX SCORE
No. 5 Russell Sage defeated No. 4 Houghton, 3-2 – BOX SCORE
Wednesday, November 1 – Semifinals
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 5 Russell Sage, 3-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 St. John Fisher defeated No. 6 Alfred, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, November 4 – Championship Final
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 2 St. John Fisher, 3-0 at – BOX SCORE
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