Nov. 5, 2008

ALBANY, NY (Nov. 5, 2008) – Sophomore M Jordan Bowers and junior M Lizzie Shegda scored goals in either half as No. 2 Saint Rose defeated No. 6 UMass Lowell, 2-0, Thursday afternoon in the Northeast-10 Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament semifinal at the Albany Academy.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 8-5-5 and will await Monday’s selections for the NCAA Tournament East Region field. Saint Rose (16-3-1) advances to the championship Sunday where it will play the winner between No. 1 Franklin Pierce and No. 4 Southern Connecticut (a 4:00 start Thursday).

Bowers opened the scoring in the 29th minute when she took a cross from freshman M Nicola D’Errico and tucked a shot to the right of junior G Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA).

The Golden Knights doubled their lead on a counter attack in the 61st minute. Senior F Kailey Egbert drove down the left flank and crossed to Shegda, who struck well to lower left corner of the goal.

Saint Rose nearly scored a third in the 66th minute, but freshman M Christina Cuffari’s attempt caromed off the bar.

The River Hawks had a couple chances in the second half to pull a goal back. In the 63rd minute, sophomore D Ella Merullo (Wakefield, MA) attempted from inside the box, but her shot was agonizingly wide.

In the 74th, freshman Kaitlynn McHugh (Winchester, MA) found herself on a one-on-one, only to have junior goalkeeper Shannon Murphy snuff her attempt.

Saint Rose outshot UMass Lowell 10-6 overall but shots on target were even at 4-4. Gillis stopped two shots while Murphy had four saves for the Golden Knights.

Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Smifinal
Saint Rose 2, UMass Lowell 0
At Albany, NY

Goalkeepers
Jamie Gillis (UML): 2 saves, 90:00
Shannon Murphy (STR): 4 saves, 90:00