Box Score

ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose closed out its 2011 campaign with its fifth straight one-goal setback behind a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Northeast-10 Conference rival Merrimack tonight at Sullivan Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex.

The Warriors (9-6-3/7-5-1 NE-10) registered the game's lone strike in the opening 15 minutes and controlled much of the pace throughout the second half, but the Golden Knights (1-16-0/0-13-0 NE-10) defense did not break and thus afforded themselves an upset chance throughout the evening.

Senior forward Robby Sabadoz, a three-time All-Conference pick and the 2009 NE-10 Player of the Year, provided the difference for Merrimack when he collected a through ball in stride from senior midfielder Victor Plaza just beyond the top of the area. Sabadoz then dribbled around Saint Rose senior keeper Patrik Ohlsson, who was forced to rush off his line, and subsequently lifted the ball into an open net.

A four-year starter, Ohlsson was his usual solid self for Saint Rose with seven saves as Merrimack manufactured an 8-1 shot-on-goal advantage. The Golden Knights did have some chances, most of which came from six corner kicks.

Looking ahead, 20 letterwinners from this year's roster are projected to return for first-year head coach Matt Jones next autumn. One of Jones' primary tasks for this year's squad was to cut down on its goals allowed, which the Golden Knights managed to do at nearly a 33.0 percent clip. Saint Rose had a team goals-against-average of 2.96 in 2010, but that dipped by almost a full goal to 2.08 this year.

Overall, 10 of the team's losses were by one goal and two of them came in double overtime.