Box Score

UNION, NJ – Midfielder Marina Mangano scored the winning goal for the Rowan University women’s soccer team in a 4-3 conference victory against Kean University on Saturday evening.

With two seconds left in the second overtime, Mangano (so. Cape May Court House, NJ/Middle Twp.) headed the ball into the right side of the net after a cross from forward Jess Babice (sr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert).

The Profs have a 14-1-1 record with a 7-1 NJAC mark. This week, Rowan is ranked 23rd in the nation and tied for third in the South Atlantic Region. The Cougars are 8-5-4 overall and 2-3-3 in the conference.

Babice ended the game with two goals and two assists. She has a total of 52 points (20 goals, 12 assists) which is a school record. The old mark was 51 by Michelle Carrocino in 2007. It is the fourth Rowan record that Babice has set this year.

Kean midfielder Julianna Natale (so. Clinton, NJ/Clinton) recorded the tying goal at 76:54 on a penalty kick. With 3:59 left in the first half, midfielder Michele Ercolano (so. Emerson, NJ/Paramus Catholic) put the Profs ahead 3-2 and Babice assisted.

At 12:24, Babice had the first goal of the game with a pass from forward Veronica Rhea (jr. Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI). Natale tied it at one (23:42) with a shot that hit the crossbar then went into the net. The Cougars went up 2-1 on a header by forward Samantha Ciccone (sr. Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ/South Brunswick) at 24:33 and back Lauren Small (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton W.) had the assist. Babice recorded an unassisted goal at 36:50 for a 2-2 tie.

Rowan totaled 31 shots and Kean took 16. Profs’ goalie Jillian Brannan (jr. Saddle Brook, NJ/Saddle Brook) stopped four shots. For the Cougars, goalkeeper Leandra Russo (sr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) made eight saves.

Rowan plays its last game of the regular season at conference opponent The College of New Jersey on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m.