Women’s Soccer Falls to Saint Rose 0-2 in ECAC Final

NEWARK, NJ (11/13/05)-Top-seeded Saint Rose posted its second 2-0 win in two days, defeating second-seeded Bridgeport to capture the 2005 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Women’s Soccer Championship on Sunday.On Saturday, Saint Rose had won its semifinal match, 2-0, over #4 Philadelphia. Bridgeport reached the final with a 2-1 win over #6 Dowling on Saturday. Saint Rose closes its ECAC championship season with a 13-3-5 overall record, while Bridgeport ends at 14-6-2.All games in the six-team tournament-two on Wednesday, two on Saturday and Sunday’s championship–were played on New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Lubetkin Field.The Golden Knights broke a scoreless tie late in the 43rd minute on an unassisted goal by Alexandra LaFite. The junior gained control just outside the top of the box and her shot, which appeared to come off her right ankle, was perfectly placed into the upper right corner.Saint Rose got an insurance tally at 57:49 on a quick counter against heavy pressure, with Bridgeport seeking the equalizer. With the Purple Knights pushing forward on the attack, Saint Rose countered, with Alex Sobchak breaking down the wing and sending a cross into the penalty area, where Kailey Egbert finished, making it 2-0.Saint Rose kept Bridgeport off the board the rest of the way, as goalkeeper Lauren Steinberg notched her 13th shutout of the season. Steinberg made five saves. On the other end, Bridgeport’s Thora Reyn Rognvaldsdottir made two saves.Saint Rose senior fullback Courtney Goess, who helped lead the defense that did not surrender a goal and allowed just eight total shots in two ECAC postseason games, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2005 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Women’s Soccer Championships.Bridgeport may have had its best chance all day in the first five minutes. Leading scorer Lilja Valthorsdottir sent a high shot on goal and an off-balance Steinberg got enough of it to keep it out of the goal, but she juggled the ball over her head a couple of times and then a teammate gained control and cleared the ball from the goal area. Saint Rose overcame the loss of leading scorer, freshman Sami Brown, who appeared to twist her knee and had to be carried off the field at 21:39. Brown, who scored her team-leading 11th goal in Saturday’s semifinal win, did not return after her injury Sunday.