ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose women's soccer squad further bolstered its legacy today by establishing itself as only the third school in Northeast-10 Conference annals to win three consecutive league championships. The Golden Knights, ranked #2 for the fifth consecutive week according to the most recent NSCAA/Adidas Division II Poll, reached the milestone by handing #19 Franklin Pierce a 2-1 defeat on the campus of Siena College. Saint Rose (21-0) thus joins the Ravens and Merrimack College as the lone clubs to capture three straight NE-10 titles since the conference hosted its first championship in 1985.

The Golden Knights also set a single-season school record for victories although they had their 831 minute shutout streak halted after Franklin Pierce (16-4-1) scored in the 89th minute. Regardless, it was the conference's top-ranked defense that prevailed over the league's most productive offensive this afternoon. Saint Rose had allowed only four goals all year entering the match, while the Ravens had scored 66 times.

“I am so proud of these kids. They played extremely hard and deserve to win,” said Saint Rose head coach Laurie Darling Gutheil. “Our defense has always been a big part of our success. They keep the game in front of them, communicate well with their teammates and play with passion.”

Sophomore midfielder Kimberly Morton put the Golden Knights up 1-0 in the 30th minute and freshman forward Carly Pengelly added what proved to be the game-winner in the 80th. Junior forward Angelika Johansson made it interesting by putting Franklin Pierce on the board with less than two minutes remaining.

Senior keeper Shannon Murphy came up with two saves for Saint Rose, while sophomore Jocelyn Leon turned aside one shot-on-target in the Franklin Pierce net.

The Golden Knights struck after senior midfielder Deanna Wachtel and sophomore forward Nicola D'Errico used some quick diagonal touches to free up Morton in the box. Morton collected the feed from D'Errico, dribbled once to her right and let go a shot that got by an outstretched Leon.

Pengelly added the pivotal second marker with her third strike of the year when she headed home a cross from the left flank off the foot of fellow rookie Jennifer Mansfield.

Johansson eventually got Franklin Pierce on the board after the Ravens pressed forward in the waning minutes and generated only their second corner of the afternoon, as opposed to 11 for Saint Rose. Johansson pounced on a loose ball during a scramble in front of the Golden Knights goal mouth that cut the Ravens deficit in half.

Ultimately, the strike came too late for Franklin Pierce who had a chance in each period to deadlock the game at one apiece. Johansson redirected a diagonal through the box from senior midfielder Gabriela Demoner that slipped over the end line just wide of the goal in the 34th minute. In the 57th, Demoner and Johansson hooked up again when the former sent Johansson in alone down the right flank. Her subsequent shot was stopped when Murphy dove to her right to come up with the save.

On the other end, Saint Rose was denied a chance to put itself in the driver's seat when an apparent goal by Wachtel in the 67th minute was waved off due to an infraction on the play. Fortunately for the Golden Knights, it proved to be moot.

“This is incredible. We are so excited. It is hard for us to believe too. It was never our goal to go undefeated. We simply wanted to win the conference and have a chance to go back to the National Championship Finals in Florida,” said Morton.

That opportunity is now what lies ahead. Saint Rose will find out who its first opponent will be when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced tomorrow at 7:00 pm. The NCAA is providing a video feed of the tournament selection show at www.ncaasports.com.

Box Score

Postgame Pictures

All-Tournament Team
Katie Whiting, Saint Rose (Most Outstanding Player)

All-Tournament Team
Katie Whiting, Saint Rose
Amanda Deck, Saint Rose
Brittany Godin, Saint Rose
Gabriela Demoner, Franklin Pierce
Amanda Panaro, Franklin Pierce
Brittany Hess, Adelphi
Jamie Gillis, UMass Lowell
Jackie Vickers, Merrimack
Kaila Sheehan, New Haven
Jacqueline Cooney, Saint Anselm
Kelly Regan, Stonehill