ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose will meet sixth-seed Georgian Court in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship on Friday at 2:00 pm. It marks the sixth time in program history the Golden Knights earned the rite to compete for the national championship.
Saint Rose (16-3-2) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after claiming its second consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Tournament title less than a week ago. Georgian Court (12-6-5) received an automatic bid to the tournament by capturing the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) title, the first for the Lions since 2002.
Georgian Court, which is unbeaten in 15 straight contests (10-0-5), has one of the top scoring threats in the tournament behind freshman midfielder Kelly Lyons. Lyons is a first-team Daktronics All-Region pick and ranks 15th in the country with 48 points behind 22 goals and four assists.
The Golden Knights took the only regular season meeting between the clubs with a 2-0 victory on August 31 at the Nike Classic that was hosted by Assumption College. Saint Rose held an impressive 30-3 margin in shots and a 13-2 edge in corner kicks to chalk up its first of 12 shutouts this season. The two teams have met a total of nine times since 1988 with the series even at 4-4-1. However, the Golden Knights are unbeaten in three of the last four matches against the Lions.
Saint Rose owns a 1-3-1 record against the five remaining squads competing in this weekend’s NCAA East Regional with its lone victory coming against Georgian Court. The Golden Knights opened the 2008 slate with a 2-1 setback versus top-seeded LIU-C.W. Post in the first contest at the Nike Classic back on August 29. Saint Rose dropped its second and third matches of the season within a span of 10 days against Franklin Pierce and Merrimack. The Ravens found the back of the net with 15 minutes remaining to take a 1-0 victory in Albany on September 17. The Warriors then handed the Golden Knights their worst loss in four years via a 5-0 setback in North Andover on September 27. The lone tie came in a 1-1 double-overtime draw in the league championship game at Franklin Pierce, with Saint Rose winning a shootout 5-3.
Saint Rose is making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in seven years under 13th year head coach
Laurie Darling Gutheil, who picked up the 150th victory of her career earlier this season. The Golden Knights have advanced to the Round of 16 on three occasions (2003, 2006, 2007), falling to Franklin Pierce in all three instances. The winner of Friday’s contest will wind up in the second round on Sunday, November 16 against the host and second-seeded Ravens.
A total of 18 members of this year’s squad were a part of last year’s trip to the NCAA’s. The Golden Knights, which hosted the tournament for the first time in program history, upended Merrimack in a second round contest before dropping a 2-0 decision to Franklin Pierce, which went on to play in the national championship game. Saint Rose has an overall record of 2-5-1 in NCAA Tournament games.
Senior forward
Kailey Egbert, a second-team Daktronics All-Region selection, and freshman midfielder
Christina Cuffari, lead the scoring attack with six goals and four assists for 16 points apiece. Sophomore forward
Jazmine Farrell is on their heels with six goals and three assists.
The Golden Knights possess the 27th-ranked defense in the tournament field, owning a 0.70 goals-against-average. Junior keeper
Shannon Murphy headlines that group after being named Most Outstanding Player of the NE-10 Championships on Sunday. Murphy owns a 14-2-2 mark between the posts with 48 saves, six shutouts and a 0.55 GAA.
Following this weekend’s first and second round action, the third round and national quarterfinals are scheduled for Friday, November 21 and Sunday, November 23. The winner of the East Regional will meet the winner of the Atlantic Region for the rite to advance to the “Final Four”.
The national semifinal and championship games will take place on Friday, December 5 and Sunday, December 7 at Pepin/Rood Stadium in Tampa, FL.
Admission to Friday’s match is $7 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and students from participating schools with a valid ID and $2 for children ages 2-12.