Field hockey set for match-up with familiar foe

All year, Rowan’s field hockey team has had one thing on their minds. No matter who they were facing, the team craved revenge; they craved Messiah.

It looks as if they might finally get them.

The Profs have made it back to the NCAA Tournament, and they aren’t looking for anything short of a championship. Their path takes them right through Messiah’s bracket.

“We wanted Messiah. Last year, we beat them in the regular season but lost in the tournament,” said sophomore midfielder Julie Cairone. “This year, hopefully it’s a different story.”

In their match-up earlier in the season, the Falcons controlled the game with a 3-0 victory. After a close first half, the Profs let up two second-half goals and couldn’t seem to get anything going. They out shot and outplayed Rowan, but the game came during a string of losses to ranked opponents.

“A lot has changed since those first games, including our starting lineup,” said captain Jenna Lombardo. “We cannot wait to have another chance at them.”

By winning the NJAC, the Profs became one of eight schools to get an automatic bye into the sweet 16. They will play the winner of a match between Lebanon Valley College and Wittenberg University, which will take place on Wednesday. Lebanon is currently ranked 7th in the NFHCA poll with a 16-2 record. Rowan has not played either team this season. The Rowan game will be on Saturday at Messiah College.

A win will most likely put them into the quarterfinals against Messiah, the same team that knocked them out of the NCAA tournament last year. Also in the bracket are Ursinus College, who the Profs also lost to earlier in the year, and Trinity College, who the Profs knocked out in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

“We have the talent to win against higher ranked teams,” said senior captain Kacey Ehret. “We have to prove that to ourselves, and to everyone else.”

At 14-4, Rowan was ranked eighth in the latest NFHCA poll. They have not lost a game in October or November, and are currently enjoying a 10-game win streak, which included wins against No. 10 Lynchburg and No. 12 Christopher Newport.

“It’s do or die now, Lombardo said. “I only know one thing: Rowan field hockey will not die any time soon.”