ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Juniors Erica Conte and Hillary Simon were first-team selections Tuesday with the announcement of the Empire 8 Conference all-star team for women's soccer. The teams were chosen through voting by the league's nine head coaches.

In addition to Conte and Simon, Nazareth had three second-team selections in freshman forward Chelsea Kuss, junior defender Kara Eaker and sophomore defender Deborah Towle. Also, senior goalie Polly Muehlenkamp was Nazareth's representative as Sportswoman of the Year.

Conte, of Caledonia, N.Y. and a graduate of Caledonia-Mumford High School, was recognized as a midfielder after she led the Golden Flyers in scoring in 2009 with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. She was the E8 Rookie of the Year in 2007, then missed most of the '08 season while recovering from a knee injury.

Simon, of Homer, N.Y. and a graduate of Homer High School, is a repeat selection as a first-team goalkeeper. She started 17 games for the Golden Flyers in 2009 and had a 1.10 goals-against average and an .844 save percentage with four shutouts. She also was named E8 Defensive Player of the Week four times.

Kuss, of Warners, N.Y. and a graduate of West Genesee High School, started regularly for the Golden Flyers and finished second on the team in scoring with 10 points on three goals and four assists.

Eaker, of Scotia, N.Y. and a graduate of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, and Towle, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and a graduate of Spackenkill High School, were stablizers of a Nazareth defense that limited opponents to less than one goal per game in '09.

Nazareth finished 11-7-1 overall in 2009 and reached the championship game of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.

2009 Empire 8 Women's Soccer All-Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Amy Scheffer, Ithaca
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrea Janda, Ithaca
Rookie of the Year: Rachael Palladino, Ithaca
Coach of the Year: Mindy Quigg, Ithaca

First Team
Backs
Sarah Frisicano, jr. RIT
Andrea Janda, jr. Ithaca
Marissa Mackay, sr. Hartwick

Midfielders
Erica Conte, jr. Nazareth
Mary Dougherty, sr. St. John Fisher
Amy Scheffer, sr. Ithaca

Forwards
Rachel Bromson, fr. Elmira
Megan Gee, jr. St. John Fisher
Lauren Koppel, gr. Ithaca
Rachael Palladino, fr. Ithaca

Goalkeeper
Hillary Simon, jr. Nazareth

Second Team
Backs
Paige Allen, fr. Stevens
Kara Eaker, jr. Nazareth
Liz Masucci, sr. Ithaca
Deb Towle, so. Nazareth

Midfielders
Mary Chew, jr. Stevens
Kristen Denninger, sr. RIT
Emily Mogk, sr. Ithaca
Megan Trager, so. Ithaca

Forwards
Chelsea Kuss, fr. Nazareth
Kathleen Schuckers, so. Stevens
Danielle Smith, sr. Utica

Goalkeepers
Ashley Martin, sr. St. John Fisher
Ashley Valenti, so. RIT

Honorable Mention
Backs: Cheyenne Chrzanowski, Stevens; Mary Corey, Elmira; Ashley Florack, St. John Fisher; Shireen Irani, RIT; Alexandra Lyons, Stevens; Katie Mibaum, St. John Fisher; Andi Roach, Ithaca; Carly Schrader, Alfred
Midfielders: Jill Benoit, Utica; Kate Bossy, Hartwick; Kendra Shelters, RIT; Katelynn Stewart, Stevens; Brenna Weidman, Utica
Forwards: Allyson Pisher, RIT; Lauren Ploof, Hartwick
Goalkeepers: Shanna Ewoldt, Alfred; Katilin McClymont, Stevens

Sportswoman of the Year
Carly Schrader, sr. Alfred
Ellie Hamilton, fr. Elmira
Lauren Ploof, sr. Hartwick
Shannon McNichols, so. Ithaca
Polly Muehlenkamp, sr. Nazareth
Kristen Denninger, sr. RIT
Amanda Siebert, jr. St. John Fisher
Hillary Paul, sr. Stevens
Jaime Hillman, fr. Utica