By JOSHUA NATOLI
Sports Editor
I would like to take a moment to extend a warm welcome to our new class of 2017, as well as all returning students, especially my fellow seniors. Now, let us get down to business. With the academics of a new Fall semester coming upon us, so do the sports. Both the men’s and women’s sides of the soccer pitch and the cross country trail, as well as action on the volleyball court will once again take the Golden Knights spotlight.
Coming off a season in which they were eliminated in the NCAA Division II Final Four, the Golden Knights Women’s Soccer team looks to bounce back and regain the title of National Champions, which they earned just two seasons ago. According to the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II preseason poll the Golden Knights are ranked number four in the nation, behind last year’s champion West Florida at number one, Grand Valley State at number two, and UC San Diego at number three.
Aside from being ranked so high in the preseason poll, The College of Saint Rose also has the advantage of returning ten of their players from last year. None of those starters may be more crucial to the success of the Golden Knights than senior forward Carmelina Puopolo. Puopolo has already accumulated Golden Knights all-time records in goals (49), assists (41), and points (139). Alongside Puopolo will be senior midfielder Sidney Bond who chipped in 13 goals and 30 points last season.
The season opener for the Golden Knights is set for Thursday, September 5 at the Plumeri Sports Complex. They also will play a key game away from home on October 8th against the 25th nationally ranked American International.
The women’s squad will also have to share the pitch with their male counterparts, whom closed out the 2012 season with a record of 1-15. It seems as though their fortunes can only get better from here, especially since they will be returning to the pitch with most of the same men of last year. The Golden Knights are to kick off the season with two non-conference home matches against Caldwell and Felician on September 5 and 7 respectively, then head to Sparkill, New York to take on Saint Thomas Aquinas before heading into Northeast-10 Conference play.
On the trails, the men’s side of Golden Knights Cross Country has a large hole to fill with the departure of standout runner Macky Lloyd. Lloyd has taken the helm of being a volunteer assistant for the Golden Knights on both the men’s and women’s sides upon his exit after stellar seasons in both cross country and track and field last year.
The Golden Knights are returning two seniors in Nathan Bub and Samson Dikeman, who should both remain consistent finishers throughout the season. On the women’s side the Golden Knights are returning two potential top-five finishers in Emma Cohen and Grace Giampaglia.
The first meet of the year will take place on September 7 in Manchester, New Hampshire for the Shacklette Invitational.
On the court the Golden Knights Women’s Volleyball team is looking to follow up on a 2012 campaign that landed them a record of 17-10 and a trip to the NE-10 quarterfinal match. The Golden Knights are returning quite a few impact players from last season such as Alex Gagliano, who finished the season with 265 kills, Carissa Dube, who tallied the second most kills on the team with 232, and Katy Daniels who anchored the defense with 478 digs.
The Golden Knights are faced with two tournaments early on in their schedule. First up is the Dowling Tournament on September 7 where Saint Rose will face-off against the host Golden Lions and the NYIT Bears. That tournament is followed by a home contest against Dominican before heading to Rochester, New York to face Bloomfield, and the host Red Hawks at the Robert Wesleyan Tournament.
As things get under way we will just have to wait and see which teams stand where in their NE-10 divisions.
