ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose survived an early scare by turning up the pressure in the second half to chalk up a 2-1 victory against visiting Northeast-10 Conference rival Southern New Hampshire today at Sullivan Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex. The Golden Knights (4-0/2-0 NE-10), ranked #3 in the latest NSCAA/HendrickCars.com NCAA II poll, scored late in the first half and again in the opening moments of the second stanza to keep their unblemished record intact.
Saint Rose outshot the Penmen (2-2/1-2 NE-10) by a 14-6 margin, including an 8-2 differential in the decisive second period.
Six players figured in the scoring column for the Golden Knights who used some nifty passing to manufacture both of their tallies. However, they had to play from behind for the first time all year after sophomore midfielder Kasey Morrison put Southern New Hampshire in front 1-0. Morrison one-timed home a rebound from senior midfielder Danielle Courtemanche at the 22:42 mark after Courtemanche's original blast ricocheted off the crossbar.
Saint Rose then drew square with eight minutes remaining until intermission when senior forward
Kristen Bidosky pushed through a ball that found junior midfielder
Brittany Godin. Godin subsequently delivered a cross to freshman midfielder
Sydney Bond who drove home the second strike of her young collegiate career.
After intermission, the Golden Knights began to dictate the pace. The effort paid immediate dividends as junior midfielder
Aoife Herbert struck a pass on the right side that junior forward Gianna D'Errico ran onto and sent across towards the middle of the box that her twin sister Nicola D'Errico buried inside the left post for what proved to be the game-winner.
Senior keeper
Deanna Esposito was again outstanding in goal for the Golden Knights. Esposito collected two saves and controlled the box throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile, sophomore keeper Maggie Weldon turned aside five shots on target to keep the Penmen within striking distance.
Up next, the Golden Knights are scheduled to host conference rival Le Moyne on Wednesday at 6:15 pm. The Penmen on the other hand are off until Saturday when NE-10 foe Franklin Pierce visits Manchester, NH for a 1:00 pm date.
Box Score
