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GLASSBORO, NJ – First-half goals by Kristiina Castagnola and Bridget Guinan paved the way for #3 Rowan to defeat #5 Messiah, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, to advance to the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row. The Profs will continue their quest for a national title on their home turf as Rowan will be serving as the host for the NCAA Championship at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium on November 18 and 20.
 
Rowan will face second-ranked Middlebury at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 18, following the matchup between #8 Williams and #4 Johns Hopkins at noon. - BRACKET
 
The Profs, now 21-1, have tied the school record for wins, matching that of the 2002 team which went 21-0 captured the program's only national title. This will be the third appearance in the NCAA Semifinals under Coach Michelle Andre, and the fifth trip in school history.

Castagnola, the two-time All-American, started the scoring for the second time this weekend, as she dribbled the ball from the 25-yard line into the circle and put the ball into the right side of the cage from 10 yards out at 8:37. It was her third goal this weekend and the 21st of the season for the midfielder.
 
Guinan notched her second goal of the tournament when she took the entry pass on the penalty corner from Liz Fox and connected from just inside the circle at 28:52. The senior scored her 10th goal of the season and the 51st of her career, while it marked the team-best 12th assist of the year for Fox.
 
Rowan added an insurance goal, upping the lead to 3-0 when Julia Patrone received the ball on a corner and pushed it to the right to Julia Cavicchio, who blasted it into the cage at 36:23. The defender tallied her eighth goal of the year.
 
Messiah got on the board less than a minute later, at 37:03, as Carrie Blair chipped one in from close range, ruining the Profs' shutout attempt.
 
The Falcons a few scoring opportunities in the early going, but the Profs' defense, led by Cavicchio and goalie Abby Hainsworth thwarted all other chances. Hainsworth made one save on the day as Rowan allowed just four shots from Messiah.
 
"If she's (Castagnola) at her "A" game, then we're in good shape She came to play and has risen to the occasion, and everyone around her has risen to the occasion. The good thing with our team is that if someone is off their game, there's someone there to pick them up. We played good team hockey," said Andre.
 
On staying at home for next weekend's championship, Andre said, "I'm really, really happy that it's here. We've got a team that can win the whole thing and to be able to do it at home would be an amazing experience for the girls."