BECKLEY, W.Va. - The College of Saint Rose twice fought back from one-goal deficits after halftime to upend host Concord University 3-2 in overtime in today's NCAA National Championship Quarterfinal encounter. The Golden Knights will now move onto a national semifinal game in Colorado Springs next Thursday against a yet to be determined opponent.
"It was just a fantastic performance against a very difficult opponent. We persevered and believed in what we were here to do and we responded every time with a comeback goal. I think that the leadership of our seniors and personality players always stayed positive," said head coach
Laurie Darling Gutheil. "They always pushed with the mentality that we were going to do this and we were not going to be concerned with the score. We were going to continue to play, and were going to come out of this game with the outcome that we wanted. Their faith to persevere is what really sets them apart, and the underclassmen fed off of that."
That perseverance paid off as freshman forward
Lexi Grassia drove home a perfect header to the left side of the net off a lined pass from freshman forward
Mia Klammer for the game-winner 2:37 into the overtime period to propel the eighth-ranked Golden Knights (17-1-4) to their eighth national semifinal appearance.
The game was close throughout with Saint Rose generating a 16-13 shot advantage, 10-7 in chances at frame, although the Mountain Lions (20-1-3) engineered a 10-9 shot differential after halftime and manufactured seven corners, while yielding five in their lone loss this season.
Graduate student midfielder Yasmin Mosby, the Mountain East Conference Player of the Year, extended her goal scoring streak to 13 matches with her 26th strike of the year with 57:56 elapsed to put Concord ahead 1-0.
Three minutes later, sophomore midfielder
Jen Bartlett drove a shot inside the top right post from about 25-yards out on the left side of the area following a scramble in front of the net.
Junior midfielder Michelle Brogden put the Mountain Lions ahead again when she touched in a cross inside the left post that was delivered by Mosby from the right side with just under 20 minutes left in regulation.
Saint Rose kept pushing though until a header by senior back
Ciera Lundy drew Saint Rose level once again with 13 minutes to go in regulation. Lundy's shot went high to the right side of the goal after a throw-in from freshman forward
Mia Klammer was initially headed towards Lundy by sophomore midfielder
Lauren Amerena.
A pair of freshmen in Grassia and Klammer then linked up for the dramatic game-winner.
Fifth year keeper
Marika Laurendeau made four of her five saves over the final 47 minutes to keep the Golden Knights within striking distance.
Her biggest came off a dangerous shot from junior back Zoe Belding in the final five minutes of regulation. Senior Leah Marsh made six of her seven stops in the opening period for Concord.
Going Forward: Saint Rose heads to the national semifinals at Switchbacks FC Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Thursday, December 9. The national championship match is set for Saturday, December 11.
Golden Knights in the NCAA Tournament: This year marks the 16th time in 19 years (excluding 2020) that the Golden Knights have been afforded the opportunity to contend for the NCAA Division II National Championship…Saint Rose is now 30-12-6 all-time in NCAA Tournament contests…The Golden Knights made their eighth national quarterfinal appearances (7-0-1) this afternoon and will be making their eighth national semifinal appearance (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, and 2021) within the past 14 years…Saint Rose of course captured the 2011 National Championship.
Notes: Saint Rose, ranked #8 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches National Poll, has outscored its 22 opponents 55-10 and has surrendered six, second half goals all year…The Golden Knights entered today third in the country with a 0.36 team goals-against-average and were 25th in scoring offense behind 2.48 goals per game.…Saint Rose allowed two goals today, as many as it had given up in its previous nine contests.
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