GLASSBORO, NJ – Sydney Kowalczyk had two goals but the rally by #13 Rowan fell short as #17 Lynchburg held on for a 3-2 win in the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. Rowan, which won its fifth consecutive NJAC Championship, ends the year with a 16-6 record.
 
Lynchburg built up a 3-0 lead with all of its goals in the second quarter. Allie Freeman scored first at 16:43, assisted by Khanyisile Mzizi, and the Mzizi scored the next two, with the first at 24:16 and the third just five minutes later.
 
Rowan got on the board in the third quarter as senior Tess Herman took the initial shot and the Kowalczyk collected the loose ball in front and swept it in at 34:00.
 
The Hornets had a chance to make it a 4-1 game, but Rowan goalie Mariah Juiliano made the stop on a penalty stroke with over six minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Kowalczyk's second goal was almost identical to the first, as she picked up a rebound and put it in at 49:38 for her team-best 19th goal of the season, and her sixth multiple-goal game.
 
Juiliano made six saves as she faced 11 shots, with the Profs taking 15 shots overall, including five in the final period.
 
It was Rowan's seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship under head coach Michelle Andre and the 25th all-time.
 
Lynchburg moves on to #1 Christopher Newport for a Second-Round meeting on Saturday.