RINDGE, NH – The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team accomplished something it had not been able to do in four previous postseason meetings against Franklin Pierce University, thus rewriting its record book on many fronts. The Golden Knights upended the second-seeded Ravens 4-0 in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship, marking the first time in program history Saint Rose defeated Franklin Pierce in the NCAA Tournament.

The Golden Knights (18-3-2) also won in Rindge, NH for the first time in 10 chances and recorded its second victory in 18 encounters against the Ravens in a series that dates back to 1991. Saint Rose last beat Franklin Pierce in the season opener for both squads on August 31, 2006 behind an identical 4-0 result in Albany.

“We never take anything for granted when we play them [Franklin Pierce],” said Saint Rose head coach Laurie Darling Gutheil. “This was a complete team effort. Our focus today was to play as a team because we knew that it was going to take contributions from everybody in order to win.”

It was a pair of youngsters that got Saint Rose (18-3-2) going early. Freshman midfielder Christina Cuffari and fellow freshman forward Gianna D'Errico each struck within the first 10 minutes of the contest to give the Golden Knights a sizeable 2-0 cushion on a blustery afternoon at Sodexho Field.

“We looked at film from last Sunday's game and tweaked a couple of things,” said Darling Gutheil. “When we had an opportunity to put the ball on frame we wanted to take advantage of it. You saw that happen early and it paid off.”

Cuffari used the wind to her advantage in the third minute. She collected a ball in the middle and dribbled down the center before driving a shot from 22-yards out that sailed over the outstretched arms of Franklin Pierce senior keeper Brittany Ester. It was Cuffari's seventh marker of the season and fifth in the last seven games. 

Just over seven minutes later, Saint Rose sophomore midfielder Amanda Schweers played a ball from the right side that found D'Errico near the center of the goalie box. D'Errico tucked a header inside the far post for her sixth tally of the year.

Schweers made it a 3-0 affair in the 75th minute and senior forward Kailey Egbert left no doubt with her seventh strike in the 79th for the final margin. Sophomore forward Jazmine Farrell set up both tallies.

The Ravens (15-4-2) almost came up with an answer for the Golden Knights in the 81st. Senior midfielder Kristen Cilley took a free kick from 25-yards out that forced Saint Rose junior keeper Shannon Murphy to tip it over the crossbar. The ensuing corner kick was cleared away from danger and the Golden Knights held on for their 14th shutout of the season. Murphy finished with three saves in the match, while Ester stopped four shots for Franklin Pierce.

Saint Rose advances to the East Regional Championship against the University of Bridgeport (18-4-1), which upset top-seed LIU-C.W. Post 1-0 this afternoon in Brookville, NY. The contest is scheduled for Friday, November 21 and will be hosted by the highest remaining seed from the Atlantic Region. 

Box Score