GLASSBORO, NJ – Mariah Juiliano made the first start of her career in goal and posted 17 saves as #23 Rowan held on for a 3-2 win over #13 Kean in NJAC field hockey action this evening. Vanessa DiDonato, Julia Cavicchio and Grace Fenton provided the goals for the Profs, who improve to 7-6 (2-1 NJAC).
 
Juiliano thwarted numerous attempts by Kean as the Cougars' were in the Profs' defensive end for a good portion of the game. Kean outshot the Profs 26-12 and held a huge advantage in corners, 22-8.
 
DiDonato got Rowan started on its way to a 3-0 lead, as she took the ball at the 50, dribbled down the field, into the circle and around the goalie, pushing the ball into the cage past a Kean defender for her team-high 10 goal of the year at 10:39.
 
Cavicchio blasted a shot from just inside the circle off a corner three minutes later to give the Profs a quick 2-0 lead, as she took the pass from Amber Powell.
 
Rowan increased the lead to 3-0 early in the second half when Cavicchio carried the ball into the circle and slipped it to Fenton who was at the near post. It was Fenton's first goal of her career.
 
Juiliano was then faced with a penalty stroke at 34:07 but made the save, deflecting the shot by Megan Stump into the post. The sophomore goalie continued to face the pressure from Kean, but numerous times would make consecutive saves to keep the Cougars off the board.
 
Kean finally broke through with a goal at 41:15 near the end of the third quarter by Laura Stump and managed just one more goal by Caroline Pease with under three minutes to play. The Profs were able to clear the ball out of their end a few times in the final minutes to seal the win.
 
The Profs return to action in a week when they host Montclair State on Saturday, October 21^st.