Dec. 3, 2011
Box Score
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Junior Ashley Botts’ (Beloit, Wisc.) first-half goal was not enough as Saint Rose scored two second-half goals to defeat the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team, 2-1, in the NCAA Division II National Championship game on Saturday afternoon.
With a 42-game unbeaten streak snapped, the Lakers close out the season with a 20-1-4 record.
Botts’ tallied a goal in the 33rd minute of the first half when she picked up a failed clear and fired it from the penalty kick area into the back of the net. It was the junior forward’s 20th goal of the season.
The Lakers took their 1-0 lead into half time, while Saint Rose held a 10-7 edge in shots.
Saint Rose opened the second half, putting heavy pressure on the GVSU side of the field and it paid off. Sophomore Carmelina Puopolo earned a volley in front of the net and scored to even the score, 1-1, in the 48th minute.
Puopolo was not done though, as she tallied the game-winning goal at the 55:05 mark off a cross from Molly Harpster for the 2-1 lead.
GVSU battled back for the next 35 minutes and the Lakers looked to have a chance to tie the game in the 85th minute when junior Maria Brown’s (Columbus, Ohio) shot nailed the crossbar and fell back to Botts feet. Botts then turned to get the rebound, but fired the shot over the net.
Freshman Charlie Socia (Portage, Mich.) was able to get a foot on the ball and sent the ball towards the net in the 89th minute, but keeper Jessica Gerski saved it for Saint Rose’s first-ever national championship.
For the game, GVSU held a slight 17-16 edge in shots including a 7-6 mark in shots on target. Saint Rose took four corners to the Lakers’ three. Junior keeper Chelsea Parise (Sterling Heights, Mich.) picked up four saves in just her second loss of her career, while Gerski had five in net for the Golden Knights.
Senior defender Kayla Klosterman (Columbus, Ohio) and junior forwards Botts and Kayla Addison (Southfield, Mich.) were named the NCAA All-Tournament team.
The senior class of Erin Mruz (Gurnee, Ill.), Megan Brown (Jenison, Mich.), Lindsey Marlow (Livonia, Mich.), Jessica Trost (Canton, Mich.) and Klosterman closes out their career with an 86-3-10 record, which is a 91.9 win percentage.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
GK - Jessica Gerski, Saint Rose
D - Molly Downtain, Chico State
D - Kayla Klosterman, Grand Valley State
D - Derith Fernandes, Saint Rose
D - Sydney Bond, Saint Rose (Defensive Most Outstanding Player)
M - Lisa Webster, Chico State
M - Nadima Skeff, Armstrong
M - Gianna D'Errico, Saint Rose
F - Carmelina Puopolo, Saint Rose (Offensive Most Outstanding Player)
F - Ashley Botts, Grand Valley State
F - Kayla Addison, Grand Valley State
