ALBANY - There have been two women's soccer teams to in the history of the Northeast-10 Conference (1985) to capture five straight titles. The College of Saint Rose is coming off its fourth NE-10 championship a year ago and at 1:00 pm Sunday, at Sullivan Field at the Christian Plumeri Sports Complex, the top-seeded Golden Knights will have a chance to defend their crown and join Franklin Pierce University and Merrimack College as the only clubs to capture five titles in a row.

It just so happens that Saint Rose will have to defeat one of the aforementioned teams in the second-seeded Warriors, who had a string of five consecutive titles between 1986-90. Their lone other crown came in 1999.

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 game will be broadcast live on www.northeast10.tv.

Last Meeting (10/15/11)
Host Merrimack College scored on each of its first three shots of the contest and managed to keep a potent Saint Rose offense off the board on the way to a 3-0 Northeast-10 Conference victory over the Golden Knights back on October 15. The Warriors struck early and often to put themselves in the driver's seat.

Sophomore forward Danielle Dion took things into her own hands by tipping home a cross from junior midfielder Jamie Alnwick with 20:08 elapsed. Dion struck again just 18 seconds later off a drive from the left side of the penalty box. Merrimack continued applying pressure and broke through again at the 23:21 mark. Senior back Jessica Peacock nailed the far post off a feed from sophomore midfielder Jordan Schnopp to cap the onslaught.
 
Scouting #15 Saint Rose (18-1-1)
The Golden Knights moved up one spot to #15 in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Poll. Saint Rose chalked up a 2-0 win versus Stonehill in an NE-10 Semifinal encounter Friday. The Golden Knights ran their scoreless streak to five games (450 minutes) and are unbeaten in their last 14 (13-0-1) league tournament outings. Senior midfielder Brittany Godin recorded both tallies to power Saint Rose, which has outscored its opponents 73-10 to date.

The Golden Knights possess the nation's (NCAA Division II) most potent offense (3.65 gpg) behind a balanced attack that features six double-digit point producers, the top five of which pace the NE-10 scoring parade.

Sophomore forward Carmelina Puopolo leads the way with 35 points. Godin and freshman forward Brittany Barry follow with 27 and 26 points respectively. Puopolo leads the league with 13 goals to go with nine assists, while Godin has 12 strikes and three assists on the year. Barry has contributed 12 goals and two helpers thus far. In the back, sophomore keeper Jessica Gerski owns a 0.63 GAA. She has picked up 45 saves and anchors a defense that has 13 shutouts on the year.

Scouting #14 Merrimack (16-2-1)
The Warriors are ranked #14 in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Divisioin II Poll. Merrimack overcame a one-goal deficit with a strike in the 74th and then Dion found the back of the net with 31 seconds left in the first overtime session on the way to a 2-1 triumph versus Southern New Hampshire in Friday's NE-10 Semifinal contest.

Seventeen players have figured in the scoring column to lead a balanced attack coupled with a defense that ranks fourth in the conference behind a team 0.72 GAA.

Sophomore forward Jenna Zechner paces the squad with 19 points on eight goals and three assists, while Dion is on her heels with 16 points via seven goals and two assists. Senior keeper Kiley Horne has chalked up nine shutouts, 96 saves and a 0.69 GAA.

The Series against Merrimack
The series is tied up at 10-10-2 for both clubs. However, the Golden Knights have taken nine of the past 11 meetings against the Warriors. Today marks the fifth time the two sides will meet in the NE-10 Tournament. The previous four encounters all came in the semifinal round. Each club recorded two wins apiece.

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