WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Golden Knights Win Second Straight NE10 Title, Ninth Overall
ALBANY, N.Y. - The College of Saint Rose punched its ticket to next week's NCAA Tournament by capturing its record ninth Northeast-10 Conference Postseason Championship behind today's 1-0 victory against No. 7 seed Southern Connecticut State.
In the process, the #8 nationally ranked Golden Knights (15-1-3) avenged their only setback of the season. They will now turn their attention to their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance within the past 19 competitive years.
Sophomore back Sanna Rein provided a celebratory moment of déjà vu when she struck for the game's lone goal by finishing a corner kick off the foot of sophomore midfielder and the Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player Lauren Amerena with 35:35 elapsed. It was Rein who provided the dramatics against the Owls (7-8-4) in this match two years ago when she touched home a corner for the game-winner with 10 seconds left in regulation.
After halftime, Southern Connecticut State stepped up its pace and created its best opportunity six minutes in when senior midfielder Kaitlyn D'Amico triggered a shot that forced Golden Knights fifth-year keeper Marika Laurendeau to make a diving save to her right.
Freshman forward Mia Klammer, the NE10 Rookie of the Year, nearly made it 2-0 with her league leading 13th strike of the year with 67:56 gone by when she lined a shot that Owls keeper Abby Smith was just able to direct over the crossbar.
Southern Connecticut State then pushed forward throughout the final 20 minutes, but the Golden Knights stout defense again stood tall to capture its fourth consecutive shutout, and 13th of the year.
Overall, second seed Saint Rose generated a 28-11 shot advantage although the margin was 11-9 after halftime. Laurendeau recorded five saves for the Golden Knights, while Smith turned aside seven threats-on-target for the Owls who made a run to the final as an eighth seed after upsetting top-seed Southern New Hampshire 2-1 and then advancing on PK's versus fourth seed Assumption.
- Release provided by Saint Rose Athletic Communications
Elite 24 Award: Saint Rose junior midfielder Carolyn Brussell was bestowed with the Elite 24 Award today. The NE10's Elite 24 Award honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site of each of the NE10's 24 Championships. Brussell has earned a 4.00 cumulative grade-point-average while majoring in Childhood and Special Education with a Mathematics concentration.
ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Lauren Amerena, Saint Rose*
Marika Laurendeau, Saint Rose
Ciera Lundy, Saint Rose
Allie Smith, Southern Connecticut
Nadine Hilkert, Southern Connecticut
Addison Davis, Assumption
Lily LaGrassa, Saint Anselm
*Most Outstanding Player
NE10 Women's Soccer Championship
Sunday, November 7th
Quarterfinals - at Higher Seeds
Match 1: #8 Southern Connecticut 2, #1 Southern New Hampshire 1
Match 2: #2 Saint Rose 1, #7 Adelphi 0
Match 3: #6 Saint Anselm 1, #3 Bentley 0
Match 4: #4 Assumption 0, #5 Franklin Pierce 0 (ASM Advances in PK Shootout, 3-2)
Thursday, November 11th
Semifinals - at Higher Seeds
Match 5: #8 Southern Connecticut 0, #4 Assumption 0 (SCSU Advances in PK Shootout, 3-1)
Match 6: #2 Saint Rose 5, #6 Saint Anselm 0
Sunday, November 14th
Championship – at Highest Seed
Match 7: #2 Saint Rose 1, #7 Southern Connecticut 0
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
