Box Score
ROCHESTER, NY – The Rowan University women’s soccer team won 3-0 over Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament on Saturday night. The first and second round games are being held at the University of Rochester.
In the second round, Rowan (16-2-1) plays Rochester (13-3-3) on Sunday at 6 p.m. In the other first round game, Rochester shut out Westfield State College (MA), 4-0. The second round winner moves on to the sectionals on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21 or Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22. The national semifinals and final are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5 at the Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, TX.
Forward Veronica Rhea (so. Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI) put the Profs on the scoreboard at 27:42. Rhea scored on a penalty kick. Midfielder Nina Fragoso (so. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) made the score 2-0 at the half with a goal at 30:53. Forward Jess Babice (jr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) had the assist. Babice added an insurance goal at 61:25 with a feed from back Ashley Schaffer (sr. Deptford, NJ/Gloucester Catholic).
Rowan took 12 shots and MIT had 10. Goalie Sarah Volkomer (sr. Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) stopped four shots for her fourth shutout on the season. For the Engineers, goalie Meghan Wright made four saves.
This year, Rowan and Rochester received at-large bids to the national tournament. It is the Profs’ sixth appearance and fifth straight in the postseason. Rochester is making its 17th appearance and second straight in the NCAAs. The Yellowjackets won the national title in 1986 and 1987 and they finished second in 1991.
MIT (12-6-2) won the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference title for an automatic bid and its first ever trip to the NCAA tournament. Westfield State (16-2-2) received an automatic as the champion of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference.