GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University field hockey team advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Championships with a 1-0 win over the University of Lynchburg on Saturday.
The Profs play the University of Rochester (19-2) in the third round on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. Rowan has a 21-0 record and tied the school record for wins in a season from 2002. Rochester defeated Franklin & Marshall College, 2-0 in the second round. Lynchburg finishes the season with a 16-6 record.
Forward
Rachel Galante (sr. Mount Laurel, NJ/Collingswood) scored the winning goal at 54:18. Back
Julie Johnson (sr. Mount Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) blasted a one-timer and Galante deflected the ball into the cage.
Goalie
Morgan Novak (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) made six saves for her seventh shutout. Lynchburg's Laurel Nicks (so. Yorktown, VA/Grafton) turned away nine shots. The Profs totaled 19 shots while the Hornets had 10.
Both teams had chances to score in the first half. In the first five minutes, midfielder Kaylie Truitt (fr. Lewes, DE/Cape Henlopen) and forward Isabella Eldridge (sr. Mount Pleasant, SC/Berwick Academy (ME)) had back-to-back shots that were stopped by Novak. Five minutes later, Novak denied midfielder Nikki Simpao (sr. Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge). Galante and midfielder
Bridget Boyle (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) each had a shot that was stopped by Nicks with just under 10 minutes left. Rowan ended the period with eight shots and Lynchburg had six.
Galante poured on the pressure in the final stanza. She had two straight shots knocked away by Nicks. Galante had another chance on a penalty corner that Nicks stopped before the winning goal.
Forward Nancy Bansbach (sr. Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) scored both goals for Rochester. Her first came at 32:19 when she tapped in a loose ball from 10 yards. Bansbach again found a loose ball in front of the goal and hit the back of the cage (64:03).
Goalie Kate Kujawa (jr. Elm Grove, WI/Divine Savior Holy Angels) totaled eight saves for the Yellow Jackets. F&M goalie Ilianna Santangelo (sr. Sudbury, MA/Saint Marks) stopped four shots and back Colleen Francis (jr. Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough Reg.) had a defender save.
