For Immediate Release
November 30, 2011
Courtesy of the Troy Record, Written by Mike Cioffi
Albany, N.Y. — The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team is headed to their fourth consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament final four and this time around, Carmelina Puopolo is a big reason why.
The sophomore forward has registered eight game winning goals for the Golden Knights this season, including the game-clinching goal in a 2-1 triumph over UMass-Lowell Nov. 18, which lifted the 22-1-1 Golden Knights into the East Regional championship game.
"Not to brag but I've always been a leading scorer on the teams I've been on. It's a good accomplishment, it's nice to have," she said of her eight game-winning markers.
Saint Rose ousted second-ranked California, Pa. (20-1-2), 1-0, at home in the national quarterfinals to advance to the Division II semifinals for a fourth consecutive year. The Golden Knights meet seventh-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State (18-2-3) on Thursday in Pensacola, Fla. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. at Ashton Brosnaham Complex.
Puopolo assisted on the quarterfinal game's lone goal vs. California, Pa.
The Scarborough, Ontario native spearheads the offense on a team that not only holds the school record for most tallies in a season with 86 goals, but also leads Division II in scoring overall. Puopolo has 45 points (16 goals, 13 assists) this season, 14 point more than of senior Brittany Godin.
"I just try to do my best and put the ball in the net. There's not really much to it. I just try to do my job," Puopolo said.
Since Saint Rose, the 10th ranked team in the nation, boasts four players who have recorded double-figures in goals, the lifelong Canadian doesn't feel any added pressure to find the back of the net. Their 86 goals on the season and 3.58 goals per game are both tops in the country.
"I don't think that because we have so many people that score on our team," she said. "Its not only me out there looking to score but I do try to do my job, everyday. If I have the opportunity I'm going to try and score."
Puopolo, who notched 31 points as a freshman last season, believes her competitiveness is one of the main reasons for her high offensive output as an underclassman.
"My will to win and my style of play really helps our team and meshes with our team," the childhood education major said.
Puopolo and the Golden Knights experienced heartache last season after falling, 1-0, to Bridgeport in the national semifinal, and the Knights will be looking to avenge that defeat Thursday against seventh-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State (18-2-3).
"It feels great getting back there, the first time I didn't really know what to expect," Puopolo said. "The second time around I want to win, the will is there and we're going to go there and put up a good fight."
The Northeast-10 Conference points leader is optimistic about Saint Rose's prospects in the final four, after making four straight final four showings.
"We're going to come out—maybe or possibly—with a national championship," she said.
She's also certain that the program's past experience in an atmosphere like the national semifinals will prove beneficial.
"Our team has been there and I think we know what it takes, we've just got to do it," she said. "We've got to put up a good fight."
Puopolo caught the eye of Saint Rose's 16th-year head coach Laurie Darling Gutheil in 2009, while Puopolo was competing in a tournament near her Scarborough home.
"They just called me up and said, 'do you want to come and see the school' and I came out, I liked it, end of story," The Toronto born, 19-year-old said.
She quickly became accustomed to her new surroundings in Albany, roughly 400 miles from her home in her native Canada.
The first year maybe was a little tough because I've never been away from home this long, but the second year has gone a lot better, I feel a lot more comfortable," she said.
Puopolo grew fond of the school's campus and more importantly was impressed with the success the school's women's soccer program has had under Darling Gutheil, who owns a 235-79-18 record including nine NCAA tournament appearances in the past 10 years at Saint Rose.
"She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met," Puopolo said of her coach. "She expects the best out of us everyday and we try to give 100% in practice and in games. It shouldn't be anything else, that's what she expects and that's what we've delivered to her."
Puopolo would like nothing more than to reward her coach and the team's seven seniors with a national championship. A pair of victories this weekend would spell the first title in any sport for the Western Avenue institution.
"We've showed we have the determination to get back here to the final four, we know what it takes and this year were going to put it away," Puopolo said.
