By DAVID MEISTER
Sports Editor
The women’s soccer team is still dancing in the NCAA Tournament. They competed in the East Regional Finals last Friday, but the game was moved to an alternate location after the major snow storm last week, being held instead at the Afrim’s Sports Park in Colonie.
The unfamiliar setting didn’t phase the Golden Knights, as they hoisted the Regional Champions trophy after defeating the Molloy Lions 4-1.
Senior Nina Predanic opened up the scoring in the tenth minute for her 20th goal on the year but Molloy would answer back just 18 seconds later to tie it back up. But Saint Rose would go on to score three unanswered to claim victory. The other three goals were registered by freshman Olivia Boucher, senior Caitlyn Debagian, and sophomore Kaelyn Britt.
They then moved on to the National Quarterfinals on Sunday, with another game at Afrim’s, this time against the Bloomsburg Huskies for the right to advance to the Final Four in Pittsburgh, PA and the Golden Knights prevailed by a score of 2-1. Freshman Olivia Boucher opened up the scoring in the tenth minute off a pass from Predanic. Just as the first half was expiring, senior Morgan Burchhardt struck in a free kick to give Saint Rose a 2-0 lead at the half. The Huskies would add one in the 68th minute but the Golden Knights defense stiffened and held off Bloomsburg to punch their ticket to the National Semifinals.
This’ll be the team’s seventh time in the Final Four in the past 12 years. They will play the Grand Valley State Lakers on Thursday at 11 a.m.
The women’s basketball team entered their game against the Pace Setters last Wednesday night on a two-game losing streak, they looked to right the ship but could not get the win, falling 78-73.
The Golden Knights did come back from seven points down late in the fourth quarter to force overtime but they were outscored 12-7 in the extra session. The offense was clicking for Saint Rose as four members of the team reached double figures. Leading the charge was junior Nina Fedullo who had 19 points, behind her were senior teammates Cameron Graupman, Leah Dollard, and Takora McIntyre who had 18, 17, and 16 points respectively.
They looked to bounce back on Saturday with a road match against the New Haven Chargers but they lost again, 69-48. Graupman once again led the Golden Knights offense with 13 points while sophomore Becca Townes had ten of her own.
The two losses drop their record to 3-5 and they will be back home on Tuesday Dec. 10 to take on the Southern Connecticut State Owls, tip off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The men’s basketball team also entered play last Wednesday against Pace with a two-game losing streak of their own, they looked to come back with a win against the Setters, but fell 94-82. The Setters are the last unbeaten team in the NE-10. Despite the loss, four Golden Knights managed to record double digit point totals. Freshman Josh McGettigan had 19 points which is a career high.
Behind him were sophomore Sekou Sylla with 15 points, he also had ten rebounds on his way to his seventh double-double this season. Junior Adam Anderson had 13 points while freshman Manasseh Small had 11.
They looked to snap their losing streak on Saturday against New Haven, but lost 68-57. The Chargers tied the game up at 57 apiece with 3:43 left to go in the game proceeded to go on an 11-0 run to take the win. Freshman Cartier Bowman led the Saint Rose offense with 18 points, Anderson had 12.
The two losses slides their record down to 3-6 and they will look to break their cold streak against Southern Connecticut State on Tuesday night at home, game starts at 7:30 p.m.
The men’s and women’s track and field teams kicked off their 2019 season last Saturday at the Emmanuel College Invitational. Both teams had strong performances.
Both teams won’t be back in action until Jan. 11 when they compete in the TCNJ Invitational in New York City.
