WEST CHESTER, PA – The College of Saint Rose is a mere one step away from making to its third consecutive NCAA Tournament national semifinal appearance. The final hurdle takes shape Sunday, November 21 when the Golden Knights (23-0-0) meet host West Chester (18-1-3) with a trip to the Championship Finals in Louisville on the line. Kickoff is set for noon. The match can be heard via the web at www.gogoldenknights.com with Chad Cooper handling the play-by-play duties.

Saint Rose, which has been the top-ranked NCAA Division II squad throughout the last three-fourths of the season, chalked up its third consecutive East Regional title via Friday's 1-0 win against C.W. Post. Meanwhile, the fourth-ranked Golden Rams arrived at this juncture by advancing via penalty kicks (5-4) following Friday's Atlantic Regional championship tilt versus 10th-ranked California (PA).

“We are prepared, we have been here before, we understand what is at stake and we're looking forward to it,” said Saint Rose head coach Laurie Darling Gutheil. “They (West Chester) are obviously a good team and so we'll have to play well and take advantage of our opportunities.”

Saint Rose and West Chester met once previously in 2008 when the Golden Knights came away with a 1-0 road victory after junior forward Nicola D'Errico scored the game-winner in the 81st minute.

This year's version of the Golden Knights possesses a balanced attack coupled with a superlative defensive corps. Eighteen different players have figured in the scoring column, including 16 who have recorded at least one goal. Senior midfielder and 2010 Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Amanda Deck directs the team's operation in the center of the pitch.

Junior midfielder Christina Cuffari has produced a team-leading 35 points with 10 goals and a school record 15 assists. She is furthermore one of three players in school history to reach double-digits in goals and assists in a single-season.

Freshman forward Carmelina Puopolo is also in that trio having put up 31 points on 10 goals and 11 helpers. Another freshman in midfielder Sydney Bond also has 31 points. Bond, who scored the game's lone goal Friday, has 11 strikes and nine helpers thus far.

Senior backs Katie Whiting, Kelly Guerin and Coco Ebersole anchor a defense, along with sophomore Meagan McKinney, that has shut out 11 of its last 13 opponents and owns a slim 0.26 goals-against-average, which ranks second in the nation (Division II). Saint Rose has allowed a mere six goals all season, one in the first half.

Senior keeper Deanna Esposito, the Northeast-10 Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, leads the country with a 0.15 GAA and a 0.949 save percentage. She continues to add to her school record win total (23) and is in the midst of a 933-minute scoreless streak that covers 12 games.

As for West Chester, the Golden Rams present a dangerous target up front in senior forward and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Player of the Year Sarah Oswald. Oswald has 46 points behind 18 goals and 10 assists on the season. The four-time, first-team All-League pick has accounted for 32.9 percent of the team's scoring production.

In the back, sophomore keeper Lyndsie Bernadini is 17-1-3 on the year. An NSCAA third-team All-American as a freshman in 2009, Bernadini owns a 0.46 GAA on the strength of 16 shutouts.

NOTES: Saint Rose is now 13-7-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament contests…The Golden Knights advanced to the national semifinals with a 1-0 triumph versus California (PA) in Albany last season…Senior back Kelly Guerin and junior midfielder Christina Cuffari have been named to the first-team ESPN Academic All-America® squad as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)…The Golden Knights sent a collective greeting via cell phone to Saint Rose President Dr. R. Mark Sullivan following Friday's victory versus C.W. Post…The team went through an hour long training session this afternoon…Tickets for Sunday's game are $7 for general admission, $3 for college students (with ID) and senior citizens, and $1 for children ages 2-12…Tickets may be purchased at the gate.

NCAA Tournament Bracket