ONEONTA, N.Y. – Kristen Vaccarelli (Dix Hills, N.Y.) of the women's lacrosse team has made history as the Empire 8 All-Time Career Goal-Scorer after a Hawks victory over Keuka College last Saturday. 

Vaccarelli's record breaking goal came in the second period of the game, her teammates and coaches celebrating this accomplishment with her. By the end of the contest, Vaccarelli had netted 5 goals amongst her other impressive stats, bringing her collegiate career goal total to 221 and effectively shattering an 11-year old Empire 8 record of 217 goals held by Taylor Hughes of St. John Fisher University. 

"Kristen cares so much about this program and this college, so it means a lot to celebrate her," says Head Coach Honora Fallon-Oben. "She is a phenomenal athlete and has an incredible work ethic, constantly getting the extra reps in and working outside of practice. This is an exceptional accomplishment. Proud is an understatement!"

Setting a new conference record has truly been a testament to Vaccarelli's incredibly successful collegiate career with the Hartwick Hawks.

Vaccarelli made an impact on the program early, starting in every game as a first year and recording a team-high of 38 goals and 7 assists for a total of 45 points. In her first season, she would also snag team-highs with 39 ground balls and 71 draw controls. After a stellar first season, she would be selected to the Empire 8 All-Conference Team and honored as the winner of Hartwick's Brunhilde Klinger Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Female Freshman Athlete.

In her sophomore season, her stats would only grow. Vaccarelli would earn 64 goals, leading the Empire 8 in goals and points per game. She would tally up 18 assists and record a team-high with 114 draw controls. The Empire 8 would also once again honor her with All-Conference First Team recognition, and the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association would select her for Second Team All-Region.

Vaccarelli would continue her reign as leading goal scorer for 'Wick women's lacrosse, earning 58 goals in her junior season. She also notched 2 assists and led the team with 55 ground balls, 28 caused turnovers and 79 draw controls. Her growing career-highs would land her on several of the Hartwick women's lacrosse top tens in the record books. She also boasted several NCAA Division III national rankings throughout the 2024 season. By the conclusion of her junior season, Vaccarelli had compiled numerous more athletic accolades, including another Empire 8 First Team All-Conference selection, an Empire 8 Women's Lacrosse Championship All-Tournament Team selection, IWLCA Second Team All-Region honors, and was chosen as Hartwick's Women's Lacrosse Torchbearer recipient. 

Off the field, Vaccarelli has been an academic weapon in the classroom, receiving multiple Empire 8 President's List honors and earning the Philip S. Wilder, Jr. Award for academic distinction for three consecutive years. She was also inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma Class of 2023-24, and selected to the 2024 IWLCA Division III Academic Honor Roll. She has also been recognized on the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District At-Large Team.

Now in the 2025 season, Vaccarelli's impact continues to be felt as Hartwick women's lacrosse recently clinched a postseason berth. In 13 games so far, with two regular season games and playoffs to go, Vaccarelli has earned 61 goals and 18 assists for a total of 79 points, putting her only 3 points away from her own single-season best of 82 points from the 2023 season. She has also snagged 44 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers, and 67 draw controls. Her shot on goal percentage remains deadly, at a career-high .850.

When asked about what kind of teammate and captain she is, Vaccarelli's teammates had only positive things to say.

"Since freshman year, Kristen has proven to be one of the hardest workers on the field. Her continuous will to improve her skills sets her apart from the rest," exclaims her teammate and co-captain, Katrina Marten (Middlesex, N.Y.). "Seeing how she pushes herself every single day is inspiring and makes others want to work hard too."

"Kristen is the definition of what you want your teammate to be," sophomore teammate Alexa Patrakis (Wilbraham, Mass.) agrees. "In my whole lifetime and my time watching DIII women's lacrosse, I have never seen anyone work as hard as Kristen Vaccarelli."

"Kristen is one of the hardest workers on the field, and she always has a smile on her face while doing it," says sophomore teammate, Amy Hurt (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). "I have never heard her complain about doing the hard work!"

The Hawks continue to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment by Kristen Vaccarelli as they prepare for post-season play with only two regular season games left on their schedule before the first round of the Empire 8 Championships. Vaccarelli, with her name now etched in the Empire 8 record book and sights set on playoffs, continues to chase success for the Hawks.

 

About Hartwick College:

Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.