ALBANY - The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team will take its first step towards a fifth straight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament title today when the top-seed Golden Knights host eighth-seed Adelphi University at 4:00 pm in a quarterfinal match-up at Sullivan Field at the Christian Plumeri Sports Complex. Admission to the game will be $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, children under 12 and Saint Rose employees with an ID. Admission is free for Saint Rose students with a valid ID. The contest will also be streamed live on www.gogoldenknights.tv.

The Series against Adelphi
The Panthers own an 8-5-0 advantage in the all-time series against its former New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) foe. Saint Rose has taken five meetings in a row having outscored Adelphi 10-0 along the way. Today marks the first time the two clubs will meet in the NE-10 Tournament. 

Last Meeting (September 20, 2011)
Saint Rose applied early pressure and it paid off as the Golden Knights defeated host Adelphi 3-0 back on September 20. Saint Rose dictated the pace throughout that led to a 26-2 shot advantage and a 10-1 corner kick differential.

Sophomore forward Carmelina Puopolo scored what held up as the game-winner in the 22nd minute for the Golden Knights. Meanwhile, freshman forward Brittany Barry converted a feed from sophomore midfielder Sydney Bond six minutes later. Bond added the finishing touches with a marker in the 67th minute.
 
Scouting #15 Saint Rose (16-1-1)
The Golden Knights moved up one spot to #15 in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Poll. They also captured their sixth straight NE-10 regular-season title following Saturday's 9-0 win at Bentley. The nine strikes were their most against a conference opponent since their NE-10 era began in 2000. Eleven different players figured in the scoring in that game, including Puopolo who registered her sixth game-winning-goal of 2011. Senior midfielder Christina Cuffari collected a pair of assists as well to run her school-record career total to 34.

Saint Rose has now manufactured more than 100 corner kicks than it has surrendered behind a 150-45 differential and has outscored its opponents 67-10 to date. The Golden Knights possess the nation's (NCAA Division II) third most potent offense (3.72 gpg) behind a balanced attack that features six double-digit point producers, the top three of which pace the NE-10 scoring parade. 

Puopolo and Barry lead the way with 33 and 26 points respectively. Bond has 24 points to her credit, while senior midfielder Brittany Godin has chalked up 21 points. Puopolo has 12 goals to go with nine assists, while Barry has 12 strikes and a pair of assists on the year. Bond has contributed 10 goals and four helpers thus far.

In the back, sophomore keeper Jessica Gerski is fourth in the NE-10 behind a 0.69 GAA. She has picked up 44 saves and collected four shutouts as well.

Scouting Adelphi (8-7-1)
The Panthers closed out the regular season with a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Franklin Pierce on Saturday. Adelphi is making its third straight appearance to the NE-10 Tournament since joining the league at the outset of the 2009 campaign. The Panthers are 0-1-1 all-time in conference tournament affairs.

Junior forward Emily Masiello leads a balanced offense that has seen 14 different players figure in the scoring. Masiello has produced three game-winners among her four strikes to go along with two assists for 10 points.

Freshman keeper Sam Whitney has helped solidify the back. Whitney owns a 1.05 GAA with 69 saves and five clean sheets in her rookie campaign.

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