GENESEO, N.Y. - The Empire 8 announced its All-Conference awards on Tuesday, Nov. 11, and the SUNY Geneseo men's soccer team picked up two major awards and six All-Conference honorees. Dylan Thody was named the Offensive Player of the Year after leading the Knights offense all season long, and the coaching staff, led by Mark Howlett, was named the Coaching Staff of the Year.

Thody, who was also named the Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Most Outstanding Player, enters NCAA Tournament play tied for the league lead with 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists. He excelled in league play, recording 24 points on nine goals and six assists in 11 contests. Thody scored both goals, including the overtime game-winner to lift SUNY Geneseo to the Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship on Nov. 8.

Howlett was named the Doug May Coach of the Year after leading the Knights to their first Empire 8 Championship and first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006 this season. SUNY Geneseo won the 2025 E8 Regular Season Championship and earned top seed in the Empire 8 Tournament, while entering the NCAA Tournament with a 13-5-3 overall mark. The Knights went 9-1-1 in league play, out-scoring opponents, 33-7. He coached six 2025 All-E8 selections. It is Howlett's first Doug May Coach of the Year honor.

Joining Thody on First-Team All-Conference was junior midfielder Michael Ruggiero, and senior defender Eric Famularo. Freshmen midfielder Jace DiPalo and sophomore defender Charlie Sorensen picked up Second-Team honors, while sophomore goalkeeper Max Crothall rounded out the All-Conference on Third-Team. One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2025 Men's Soccer Tomorrow's Leaders Team. This team honors a student-athlete who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they "compete with honor and integrity" and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen. Connor Guercia earned that recognition for the Knights.

Full press release from the Empire 8.