NJAC Championship Highlights

MONTCLAIR, NJ – Freshman Davide Caputo scored a hat trick, with all three goals in a span of 11 minutes, to give Rowan a 3-0 win over Montclair State in the 2022 NJAC Men's Soccer Championship. It marks the Profs' first conference title since 2003 and gives Rowan the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.
 
The teams were deadlocked at 0-0 until the 77th minute when Johnny Troiano attempted to send a through ball to Chad Yates, but MSU goalkeeper Shane Keenan came out of the box to attempt an interception, but Caputo picked up the ball and scored from 25 yards out into an empty net.
 
Despite the pressure applied by Montclair State, the Profs broke through two more times. Troiano set up Caputo's second goal on a two-on-one, with the freshman converting at 87:36.

Caputo then cemented the title with one more goal just a minute later at 88:05.
 
"It's amazing, it's awesome. These guys deserve it. We put ourselves in a bad spot and then these guys just put us in the best spot we've been in 20 years," said head coach Scott Baker.

"I couldn't be more proud of them. They're an unbelievable bunch. We've been through some tough times, but this is what we do, we go to the NCAA Tournament, we find ways. We've been in three of these NJAC Finals in the last three years. The guys were due and they're awesome and I love them."
 
Rowan started out the conference season at 0-2-2, but has gone unbeaten in eight consecutive games, posting a 6-0-2 record to now own a mark of 11-5-5.
 
Goalkeeper Dylan Aportela has been a key for the Profs as he has recorded a shutout in seven of those matches, allowing just one goal in eight games in the 1-1 tie with Ramapo in the NJAC Semifinals.
 
It marks the 14th conference title for men's soccer in school history and the first since 2003.
 
The Profs will now await their seeding and opponent for the NCAA Championship, with the selections being announced on Monday, November 7 at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.