NCAA TOURNAMENT - WOMEN'S SOCCER
National Semifinal | Thursday, December 1
Ashton Brosnaham Park | Pensacola, FL
#10 Saint Rose (22-1-1) vs. Armstrong Atlantic State (18-2-3)
Admission (Tickets available at the gate)
Adults: $10.00
Students/Senior/Military: $7.00
Youth in Uniform/Group: $4.00 (8 or more)
Live Video | Live Stats | Championship Central | Digital Program
PENSACOLA, FL – The College of Saint Rose has come this far in each of the three previous years only to be denied a chance to play for an exclusive national title. The Golden Knights thus have their sights set on a different outcome for 2011 as they prepare to meet Armstrong Atlantic State (18-2-3) out of Savannah, GA and the Peach Belt Conference, Thursday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 3:00 pm from Ashton Brosnaham Park. A live video stream will be available at
www.NCAA.com.
Saint Rose reached this point in another historical season by upending visiting second-ranked California (PA) 1-0 on Sunday, November 20. Senior midfielder Gianna D'Errico scored in the 48th minute to propel the 10th ranked Golden Knights (22-1-1). Saint Rose previously upended
Northeast-10 Conference rival UMass Lowell 2-1 in the East Regional Final after handing Merrimack, also out of the NE-10, a 5-0 second-round defeat.
The Golden Knights possess a balanced and dangerous attack coupled with a superlative defensive unit. Seventeen different players have recorded at least a point this season, including six who boast double-digit point totals for the most prolific scoring entity in all NCAA Division II. Saint Rose, which has recorded a school record 86 goals, also stands 10th in the country with a 0.49 team goals-against-average on the strength of 15 shutouts. The Golden Knights have surrendered a mere two second half strikes and have manufactured 200 corner kicks, while yielding only 54.
Saint Rose has also outscored its last 10 opponents by a 33-3 margin since its lone defeat this season, a 3-0 setback at Merrimack back on October 15. The Golden Knights have since defeated the Warriors on two subsequent occasions. They have furthermore outscored their opponents by a 19-2 margin throughout six postseason contests, and by an 86-9 margin when displacing their lone loss.
Senior midfielder
Christina Cuffari, the 2011 Daktronics East Region and NE-10 Player of the Year, is a vital component of an offensive scheme that she furthermore directs by initiating the majority of the squad's set pieces. Cuffari has 29 points on eight goals and 13 assists this season. She also owns the school record with 37 career helpers.
Sophomore forward
Carmelina Puopolo, senior midfielder
Brittany Godin, freshman forward
Brittany Barry, sophomore midfielder
Sydney Bond, and Gianna D'Errico are all twin-figure scorers as well.
Puopolo is the leading scorer in the NE-10 with a school record 45 points on the strength of 16 goals, including eight game-winners, and 13 assists. She is furthermore one of only five players in school annals to amass 16 strikes in a single season and has now cracked the school's top-10 point production (26-24-76) list.
Godin has four game-winners among her 13 strikes and has set up five others as well, while Barry has 30 points via 14 goals and a pair of assists. Bond, already a two-time All-Conference selection, has registered 27 points via 11 goals and five helpers this autumn. Gianna D'Errico, who stands 11th behind Puopolo among the College's all-time point producers (28-18-74), has been responsible for 19 points on six goals and seven assists.
Senior midfielders
Kimberly Morton and Nicola D'Errico also play a pivotal role in the team's transition. The pair has combined for four goals three assists thus far. The latter was recently recognized by
www.collegesoccer360.com for her outstanding game against California (PA).
Defensively, junior back
Meagan McKinney helps directs a group, along with senior
Derith Fernandes and junior
Molly Harpster, that has surrendered just 12 goals, and 79 shots-on-target throughout 24 contests. Sophomore keeper
Jessica Gerski has played the majority of time between the posts. She owns a 0.61 GAA on the strength of six shutouts.
As for the Pirates, they are led by junior forward Kristina Pascutti who paces four double-digit point producers with 27 points behind 12 goals and three assists. Junior keeper Meghan Mayville has seen the majority of time between the posts. She owns a 0.79 GAA throughout 1,814 minutes of action.
The winner of tomorrow's match is scheduled to face either two-time defending national champion Grand Valley State (MI) or Cal State Chico in Saturday's national championship match. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm.
