For Immediate Release
December 2, 2011
Courtesy of the Troy Record, Written by Mike Cioffi
Albany, N.Y. — The seven seniors on the Saint Rose women's soccer team will go down as one of the program's finest classes since the Division II program's inception in 1986.
Saint Rose's Class of 2012 has compiled an 89-7-4 record since their freshmen season in 2008, four consecutive Northeast-10 Conference championships and most impressive, they're headed to their fourth consecutive national semifinal appearance.
"They're a very special group. They all have contributed greatly on the field, they've made a huge impact on this program and they respected and appreciated the roles they have had," said Saint Rose coach Laurie Darling-Guthiel, in her 16th season with the school.
The lone honor that has continued to elude this class has been a final four victory and and the chance to play for the national title.
"This group is really motivated, the last two years we just haven't gotten the luck break at the end," Darling-Gutheil said.
The senior class won't reflect on their unforgettable careers until the final horn sounds this weekend, when they will either make the 1,300-mile return trek to Western Avenue with an national championship trophy in tow or empty-handed as they've returned the past three seasons.
"Every time we've gone down there we always learn something new and take a positive out of it," senior Christina Cuffari (pictured) said. "Hopefully this time around its more of an accomplishment that we can talk about, instead of crying over it."
The Golden Knights loset 4-0 in the 2008 national semifinals. They've dropped excruciating one-goal decisions in each of the past two years — 3-2 in OT in 2010 and a 1-0 setback last year.
"Its one of those things where you get so close to something that you want so bad and then you don't get it and it just stinks," Cuffari, the Northeast-10 player of the year said.
"I cant put it into words, it still stings," senior Kim Morton added of the final four losses. "It takes a while for the feeling to go away, but its motivation to get back there again. This year we have the motivation and it's just stronger than ever."
The team hopes to use their past losses as an incentive to peform at the highest level possible on Thursday.
"This team has overcome a lot of adversity and their mentality is very strong and I think that will help them prevail in a really tough contest Thursday," Darling-Gutheil said.
The players and their coach expect to be motivated by not wanting toencounter the agony they've felt the past three seasons after eachfinal four loss.
"That heartache is something none of us want to experience. This year, you want to not have that emptiness and I think not wanting to feel that way Thursday is going to be huge motivator for us," Darling-Gutheil said.
Meanwhile, the nine freshmen on the team are looking forward to getting their first taste of a final four atmopshere, as they seek to keep the tradition and fortune going just like the senior class has done.
"Its a huge deal, we definitely want our seniors to have one more and for us to win it would be amazing," freshmen Brittany Barry said.
