GALLOWAY, NJ – Kristiina Castagnola scored a hat trick as #2 Rowan defeated Stockton, 6-1, in NJAC field hockey action, with the Profs improving to 11-0 (2-0 NJAC) on the year. The win was also the 200th of head coach Michelle Andre's career at three institutions.
It marked a career-high in goals for Castagnola as the first hat trick of her career, and her 16th multiple-goal game. The two-time All-American now has 10 goals on the year.
Andre, who recently recorded her 100th win with the Profs, ironically earns the milestone against one of the schools where she coached. The Rowan alum had compiled a 95-111 record at Rochester (2002-06) and Stockton (2009-14), but since taking over the Profs in 2015, has gone 105-28. Andre's overall career record in 18 seasons now stands at 200-139.
Julia Patrone, Vanessa DiDonato and Isabel Weiner each added goals to the Profs' total.
Rowan struck early on a corner, with the first shot initially stopped, but Castagnola collected the rebound and lifted it high into the left side of the cage. The midfielder gave Rowan a 2-0 lead when she converted a penalty stroke at 7:26, her third in as many tries this season.
Patrone, the Profs' leader with 12 goals this season, entered the scoring column at 28: xx when she got the rebound of her own shot and batted it in. She set up Rowan's next goal just 29 seconds later when she sent a pass to DiDonato, who scored her fifth goal in the last three games.
Weiner, a sophomore, tallied the first goal of her career as
Rachel Stone sent a pass into the circle and Weiner one-timed it into the net at 34:27 to give Rowan a commanding 5-0 lead.
Stockton (6-4; 0-1 NJAC) ruined Rowan goalkeeper
Abby Hainsworth's shutout bid when Kirsten Bailey scored at 36:46 on a corner, on the Ospreys' first shot of the game. The Profs outshot Stockton, 19-6, and Hainsworth made five saves, all in the fourth quarter.
Castagnola closed out the scoring at 43:55 when she carried the ball to the top of the circle and blasted a backhander through the Stockton defense for her third goal.
Rowan returns home for a Saturday afternoon meeting with William Paterson.
