ALBANY, N.Y. - Junior Kailey Egbert (Camp Hill, Pa.) scored late and a stifling Golden Knight defense helped Saint Rose to a 1-0 win over Bentley in the Northeast-10 Conference Women's Soccer Quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon at the Albany Academy for Girls. The undefeated Golden Knights allowed just three shots and senior goalie Lauren Steinberg (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) picked up the shutout.
Saint Rose, ranked third in the nation and first in the New England region in the latest NSCAA/adidas Division II Poll, improved to 16-0-2 and will host the winner of tonight's tilt between Stonehill and Merrimack on Thursday in the conference semifinals. Bentley concluded its season with an 8-9-3 record, the team's best mark since 2003.
The first half was a scoreless affair, but the Falcons generated their best chances in the opening frame. Sophomores Cheryl Boyd (Holliston/Holliston HS) and Leah Leavitt (Holliston/Holliston HS) each put shots on goal, but both were saved by Steinberg.
The Golden Knights shut down Bentley in the second half, not allowing a single shot, but the Falcon defense was also strong, backstopped by freshman goalkeeper Kara Smith (West Springfield/West Springfield HS), who made eight saves in the game.
Saint Rose finally scored in the 79th minute when senior Ashley McGuire (Fishkill, N.Y.) beat a defender and sent a cross to Egbert, who one-timed the pass in for her third game-winning goal of the season. That tally held up as the only score of the match as Steinberg earned her 25th career shutout.
