Loss to MSU ends Profs season

Sometimes, a bad break or a miscommunication ends up being the difference in a game. Unfortunately, that happened to the Profs in the NJAC finals against the Montclair State University Red Hawks with an NCAA bid on the line. It was simply a bad break. A bad break that sent to the men’s soccer team packing for the season.

“I made a mistake on the goal when I came half way out for the long throw and got caught in a bad position,” said junior goalie Charlie Cunliffe. “I should have gotten the ball or stayed on my line, instead it was headed passed to the back post and they scored.”

NJAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year William Griffin’s header in the 16th minute sailed over Cunliffe into the net, giving the Profs a loss in the NJAC tournament finals , 1-0, at Sprague Field in Montclair, N.J. The loss dropped Rowan to 13-6-2 on the season, while Montclair improved to 17-1-2, earning an automatic bid to the Division III NCAA Tournament. The Red Hawks improved to 46-0-1 in their last 47 home games, and earned their 10th shutout of the season.

After a rough, physical first half where the Red Hawks imposed their will, the Profs had their fair share of second-half chances. Rowan had five corner kicks in the last 20 minutes of the game, but the Profs couldn’t convert on any opportunities. However close they came they didn’t get a goal and the Profs’ season ended.

“Honestly, it is a really tough time right now because its setting in that my soccer career is coming to an end,” said senior back Jason Dugan. “When I got here as a freshman one of the first things coach told me was, ‘Enjoy it because it goes by fast,’ and it is so true…It went by way too fast and I’m going to miss it a lot.”

The loss for the Profs left them at the mercy of a selection committee, who determined Sunday night that the Profs would not receive an at-large bid to the postseason tournament. Key losses at home against Eastern (6-10-2) and on the road against Scranton (12-6-2) factored into the decision.

“We didn’t help ourselves with some of the games we lost early,” said head coach Dan Gilmore. “The Scranton game and the Eastern game are going to come back to haunt us. Those were games we should have won.”

The shutout loss to Montclair State ends the (regular season) career of four Profs: forwards Mike Pascale and Dan Arnold, midfielder Jason Choma and back Jason Dugan. Pascale scored a career-high six goals this season. He finishes his career with 12 goals and 11 assists for 35 points. Arnold finishes his career with five goals and four assists. Choma, a team captain, ends his career with three goals and three assists, while fellow team captain Dugan finishes with six goals and two assists in his career.

“We had a great group of seniors and great leadership from our captains,” Cunliffe said. “The team as a whole was the strongest it’s been since I have been at Rowan.”

The four seniors played a big role in sending the Profs back towards the top of the NJAC. Rowan clearly proved to be the second-best team in the NJAC by defeating TCNJ on the road in the conference semifinals. The Profs had exceeded expectations, surpassing the preseason predictions for the team to finish eighth in the conference.

“This season came as a surprise to everyone in the conference except us. Coming in to camp we knew we were going to have a good year, and getting picked to finish in the bottom of the conference only fueled the fire,” Cunliffe said.

However, all that became irrelevant once the Red Hawks defeated the Profs in the finals. Now, it’s onto next season while the seniors take a look back what they’ve accomplished during their time as players for Rowan men’s soccer program.

“My best memories were just hanging out with the guys on my team,” Dugan said. “They are my best friends in the world and I honestly couldnt have picked a better team to be on. I can’t thank them enough for making my senior season so special.”