By DAVID MEISTER
Sports Editor
The women’s soccer team’s run in the NE-10 Tournament was cut short with a 6-5 overtime loss to Franklin Pierce on Nov. 2. Last Monday, the Golden Knights learned that they earned a spot in this year’s NCAA Tournament as a six-seed.
Their first round match took place last Friday against the Mercy College Mavericks, which Saint Rose won in dramatic fashion, winning 4-3 in penalty kicks. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in regulation. Saint Rose’s only goal came from junior Nina Predanic in the first half. In overtime, both teams could not manage to break the stalemate which put them into a penalty kick shootout to determine who would advance and in the end the Golden Knights prevailed to move on. Junior goalkeeper Marika Laurendeau saved two shots in the shootout to preserve the victory.
Saint Rose’s next NCAA matchup was against the Bridgeport Purple Knights on Sunday and their season came to an end after a 3-0 defeat. They finish their season with a mark of 13-5-4.
The women’s volleyball team clinched its first NE-10 Tournament berth since 2015 this season.
The quarterfinal match was on the road last Tuesday against the Adelphi Panthers, but the Golden Knights were swept out, three sets to zero, (25-16, 25-12, 25-18). Junior Stevie Schweitzer capped off her 2018 season strong, leading the team with six kills alongside her teammate, sophomore Brenna Goebel. Senior Sam Kubik finished her Saint Rose career with 20 assists on the night, bringing her up to a career total of 2,777 which places her second all-time.
The team finishes their 2018 season with a 17-12 record.
Moving onto the hardwood now, the women’s basketball team began their 2018-19 season in Rochester at the Roberts Wesleyan Tournament.
On Friday they began the tournament with their first match against the Daemen Wildcats, which the Golden Knights came back to win by a final score of 69-66. Saint Rose was down five points with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter when senior Ashley Vanderwall went on a hot streak, draining three three-pointers in that final stretch to help Saint Rose claim victory in the season opener.
Vanderwall led all Saint Rose players with 22 points while junior Courtney Clasen finished with 18 points.
They then played on Saturday against the hosts, the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks, and Saint Rose pulled off another dramatic victory, this time by a count of 58-57. The Golden Knights tallied seven of the game’s last nine points to push them onto victory.
Senior Karissa Birthwright had 14 points on the day to lead the team in scoring. Behind her was Vanderwall with 11 points.
The team begins their campaign with a 2-0 start and they will have their home opener on Wednesday against the Southern Connecticut State Owls at 5:30 p.m.
Also beginning their season last weekend was the men’s basketball team. They opened up at home on Saturday against the Georgian Court Lions, a part of the Saint Rose Tip-Off Tournament, which Saint Rose won in emphatic fashion, 90-74.
The Golden Knights’ strong offensive outing led to four players finishing the night with double digit scoring totals. Sophomore Adam Anderson led Saint Rose with a career-high 29 points. Behind him was freshman Sekou Sylla with 16 points, and then seniors Shane Herrity and Matt Cerutti each had 14 points.
The win starts interim head coach Mike Perno off on the right foot, with his first official coaching win at the collegiate level. Saint Rose will continue their opening home stand on Wednesday against the Southern Connecticut State Owls at 7:30 p.m.
