MONTCLAIR, NJ – The Rowan University men's soccer team fell short in the semi-finals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament, losing to Montclair State University by a final score of 4-3. 
 
The Profs end the 2018 season with a record of 12-7, while the Red Hawks advance to the NJAC Championship with a mark of 16-1-2. 
 
Rowan came out ready to play in the first half testing Montclair's goalie early on. Midfielder Vincent Guzzo (sr. Ocean City, NJ/Washington Twp.) fired a shot in the 2nd minute, but it was turned aside by goalie Mike Saalfrank (sr. Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey). The Profs kept the pressure up, as forward Shane Doherty (sr. Delran, NJ/Delran) ripped a shot but it hit the crossbar. The Brown and Gold kept the offensive intensity high as it recorded an additional four shots, but all were unsuccessful in finding the net. Rowan slipped as the Red Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. The Profs responded as forward Ryan Campbell (sr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) converted a penalty kick to tie the game at one (30:14). Seconds later, Montclair State earned a penalty kick and forward Chaz Burnett (so. Glen Ridge, NJ/Glen Ridge) scored to claim a 2-1 advantage. Each side battled it out for the remainder of the first half, but neither team could put one into the back of the net keeping the same score heading into the break.
 
The Red Hawks tallied back-to-back goals in the 51st and 55th minute to pull ahead, 4-1. The Brown and Gold locked down and registered two late scores to cut the deficit to 4-3. Doherty notched his first on the night in the 80th minute when he slipped the ball past the goalie and tapped it in. Campbell recorded his second goal when he flicked a loose ball over the Red Hawks goalie and into the back of the net. Midfielder Kevin Pereira (sr. Allentown, NJ/Allentown) took the final shot for the Profs, but it was saved as Rowan lost, 4-3. 
 
Campbell led the offense with two goals on five shots, while Doherty scored one. Midfielder Kevin Primich (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Allentown) and Pereira dished one assist each. 
 
Goalie Kyle Dennis (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) played the full-time in net and ended with eight saves. 
 
This concludes the Rowan men's soccer season, but it returns a healthy amount of talent next season in its pursuit for a NJAC championship.