ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose will be making its fourth appearance in a regional final within the past six years on Friday when the Golden Knights meet the University of Bridgeport in the East Regional Championship of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament. The match will be played on the campus of West Chester University, the top-seed in the Atlantic Region, at 1:30 pm.

Saint Rose (18-3-2) earned a spot in the “Sweet 16” following a 4-0 victory at Franklin Pierce University on Sunday. It was the fifth postseason meeting between the two clubs and the first time in program history the Golden Knights defeated the Ravens in the NCAA Tournament. Furthermore, Franklin Pierce had its streak of 12 consecutive regional championships come to an end.

Saint Rose has advanced to the Round of 16 on three occasions (2003, 2006, 2007), falling to the Ravens in all three instances. A total of 18 members of this year's squad were part of last season's trip to the New England Regional final. Additionally, the Golden Knights are 4-5-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament games.

Meanwhile, Bridgeport (18-4-1) avenged a setback in the championship game of the East Coast Conference (ECC) Tournament to LIU-C.W. Post by upending the top-seeded Pioneers 1-0 on Sunday. In the process, the Purple Knights established a program and single-season record for victories (18). Saint Rose owns a 4-0 mark in the all-time series against Bridgeport, including a 2-0 triumph in the 2005 ECAC Championship.

Saint Rose possesses the 19th-ranked defense in the country (Division II) behind a 0.64 goals-against-average. Junior keeper Shannon Murphy, who has yet to surrender a tally in 180 minutes of NCAA Tournament action, anchors the unit with a 16-2-2 record, 53 saves and eight shutouts to go with a 0.49 GAA. The latter represents the 13th-best mark in the nation.

Offensively, six different players have found the back of the net this postseason. Senior forward and Daktronics All-Region pick Kailey Egbert leads a balanced attack with seven goals and four assists for 18 points on the year. Freshman midfielder Christina Cuffari has matched her point-for-point with five of her seven markers coming within the past seven contests. Sophomore forward Jazmine Farrell is on their heels with 17 points behind six goals and five assists.

Bridgeport has a formidable scoring duo in sophomore forward Linda Velaj and junior forward Sofia Hoflin. Velaj has 38 points on 16 goals and six assists, while Hoflin has contributed 15 goals and six assists for 36 points. They have combined for 48.7 percent of the team's scoring production this season.

Junior keeper Elina Yletyinen has played all 23 games between the posts. She owns a 0.66 GAA with 94 saves and an .870 save percentage. Yletyinen, like Murphy, has yet to allow a goal in the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to Friday's match, West Chester will host Mercyhurst (14-4-4) in the championship game of the Atlantic Regional. Kickoff is set for 11:00 am. The winners of both regional affairs will meet at noon Sunday with a trip to the “Final Four” in Tampa, Florida at stake.

Admission to this weekend's games is $7 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and students from participating school with a valid ID and $2 for children ages 2-12.

Atlantic Regional Final
Friday, November 21 (11:00 am)
#2 Mercyhurst (14-4-4) at #1 West Chester (14-2-5)

East Regional Final
Friday, November 21 (1:30 pm)
#4 Bridgeport (18-4-1) vs. #3 Saint Rose (18-3-2)

National Quarterfinal
Sunday, November 23 (12:00 pm)
Bridgeport/Saint Rose winner vs. Mercyhurst/West Chester winner