Babice leads a cast of key players from last year’s Sweet Sixteen who all want another shot at the Division-III National Championship.

“Last year when we went to the Sweet Sixteen, it was the first time in a very long time, or maybe the first time ever (for Rowan),” Babice said. “We were content with getting as far as we did (last year), but it wasn’t what we wanted. Our main goal is to get to the Final Four and win a National Championship.”

Rowan lost to Ithaca College 2 – 1 in overtime last season in the national tournament. Babice’s goal in the 82nd minute tied the game up before Ithaca won in overtime. That capped off an injury-plagued  year in which Babice helped carry Rowan on a bruised knee for most of the season.

Last season, head coach Scott Leacott named Babice as one of his three team captains. He elected to give her the honor once again for this season.

“Everybody in the conference and everybody in the nation knows she’s a fantastic forward,” Leacott said. “We know that she’s going to be able to score goals and we know she’s going to be able to create. We just need her to stay healthy”

Like last season, health is the main concern for everyone on the Rowan roster. If they can avoid the same problems they had then, this team may go as far as Babice hopes.

“Everyone right now is coming off of preseason, so we’re a little banged up, but as the season goes on we get more in shape,” Babice said. “I think Coach is being smart with us not getting run down, because last year towards the end of the season, players got tired when it was most important. Hopefully by the time it really counts, we’ll be healthy.”

Babice and the rest of the squad did not show any signs of rust in their season opener against Arcadia. Babice had a goal in the Profs’ 4 – 0 win Wednesday in which they dominated almost the entire match.

Babice scored her first goal of the season in the second half, using her speed to get past the defense and bury her shot to make it a 3 – 0 game.

It’s that same speed that has made Babice such a dangerous player in her collegiate career. Last season, she led the Profs in points with 22 goals and six assists. She was also second in goals in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and third in total points.

It’s that same speed that makes her a favorite target.

“She’s one of the best in this conference,” junior midfielder Christie Fink said. “She’s a person you look out for when you play. She’s a go-to player. She’s always picking up the team, picking up the work effort, and everything. I think she’s going to be an immense part of our team this year and hopefully lead us to a National Championship.”

Babice received national honors last year as well for her performance, being named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Women’s Soccer Division III All-American third team and the South-Atlantic first team.

Babice is entering her senior season and will have one final chance to reach her ultimate goal of a National Championship

“This is my last year,” Babice said. “I’m never playing soccer again, so this is my last chance to do anything … there’s that extra drive, but not any more than any other season. I’ve always wanted to get to the championship and win it all.”

With a small amount of roster turnover and many of their top players returning, there is no mistaking it: expectations are higher this season.

Those expectations are reflected in the preseason polls and rankings, where Rowan sits atop the NJAC rankings and hovers at No. 9 in the NCAA poll.

“These are pretty accurate ratings,” said senior forward Lauren Ross, reigning NJAC Attack Player of the Year. “Personally, I think with the talent we have, our team is capable of exceeding those expectations.”

Along with Ross, who was the Profs’ leading scorer in 2009, Rowan returns their other top scorers, forwards Nicole Valianti and Julie Cairone, as well as All-Conference back Lauren Connor. They also have the benefit of a seasoned goalie as the last line of defense – 2009 NJAC Goaltender of the Year and third-year starter Lisa Apt. With only three seniors graduating, the roster has spent plenty of time together to perfect their trust and connections.

“Our team has a lot of chemistry. We work together and are friends on and off the field,” Ross said. “Preseason has made us a better team. We have improved as a whole.”

In wins against Cabrini College and Haverford College, their first two games of the season, the Profs have outscored their opponents 11-2. Valianti has netted four of those goals, and Ross tallied three of her own. Apt has earned both wins, facing 18 combined shots and compiling a 1.08 goals-against-average.

“Having these two wins under our belt shows that we are coming out hard and not taking anything for granted,” Apt said. “There are always things to improve on, and our game is never perfect. We work on every play as it comes.”

The next two games for Rowan against No. 3 Ursinus College on Wednesday and No. 2 Messiah College on Saturday, both away, are arguably the toughest on the schedule. The Profs do not begin NJAC play until September 22, when they take on Richard Stockton College.

It’s a sad state of affairs when going to college and gaining weight have become so synonymous that there’s actually a phrase like “Freshman 15” to describe it, especially when it’s so easy to prevent. So allow me to lay down some tips and tricks that’ll help you avoid needing bigger pants every semester.

First off, stay active! It’s incredibly easy to fall into a sedentary rut in college. The less you do, the fewer the calories you burn and the more likely you are to get a gross excess that ends up sticking around as body fat. Rowan offers dozens of physical activities, from intramural sports and fitness classes to a fully stocked and free recreation center. It doesn’t have to be much; even walking to class can work as a bare minimum with good eating habits.

Staying on the same topic, watch what you eat! With fewer restraints on food, many people gorge on cheap, greasy, or mega-sweet foods that offer hollow calories and horrible nutrition; this goes double for energy drinks, coffees and sodas. It’s particularly true of ex-athletes who are used to burning off even the worst meal choices by sheer work volume. For the most part, remember that the more natural and whole the food is (read: unprocessed and not wrapped in plastic) the better.

Right on the tail of soft drinks come alcohol. That beer in your hand may say “light,” but that’s far from the truth. For instance, a single 12 oz. serving of Anheuser-Busch’s Natural Light beer comes with 95 calories, almost entirely carbohydrates. Doesn’t seem like much, but if you estimate binge drinking four or more at a party, that’s almost 400 calories. Also take into account that your average “red party cup” carries 16oz. instead of 12 and that total quickly becomes 500 calories. That’s a full quarter of the typical 2,000-calorie diet, all coming from processed carbohydrates that are absorbed especially fast.

Finally, relax! Stress sends the body into survival mode, causing digestion to slow down and an increase in metabolism. This is good in the short term when running from lions, but the problem occurs when an extended state of stress emerges, throwing off normal functions. The body then hordes whatever nutrients it can, constantly expecting to need them at any second, thus leading to excess calories and excess body fat. Take a walk in the woods, meditate, or just take a deep breath whenever possible.

In the end, the biggest weapon against weight gain is simple common sense. Eat well, exercise often, rest when needed. Good luck!

On Wednesday, the Profs opened up the season at home against Immaculata University.  After 100 minutes of play, both offenses looked dormant.  In the 108^th minute in double overtime, Rowan defender Zach Zahrend sent a cross into the box to midfielder Ryan Gordon, who headed it into the left corner of the net for the victory.

“Gordon is a workhorse for us.  What he does on the field, nobody can take that away from him,” midfielder John Loiodice said.

On Friday and Saturday, the Profs hosted the Rowan Invitational.  The early game on Friday pitted Rowan against St. Joseph’s College (Long Island).  Gordon scored in the 12^th minute, and freshman Nick Bolton put one past St. Joe’s goalie Peter Ryan in the 24^th minute to give the Profs a 2 – 0 halftime lead.  After a goal by the Golden Eagles’ back Julian Barreiros cut the lead in half, Bolton answered three minutes later.  Rowan went on to win by a score of 5 – 1.

The Rhode Island College Anchormen defeated the Berkeley College Knights on Friday 4-1, sending them to the championship game Saturday night against the Profs.  Rowan forward Joe Parella made his presence known, scoring the only two goals of the game.  In the 72^nd minute, midfielder Andrew Brawner drilled a shot that rebounded off the crossbar.  Parella leaped over a Rhode Island defender and headed it in the net, giving the Profs a two-goal advantage.

“We knew that Christhian (Gonzalez) and Joe would give us an offensive attack that we had been missing.  They really provide us with some offensive power,” Loiodice said.

The Profs’ defense lost mainstays Randy Kohr and Jason Dugan to graduation last year.  “A lot of times with the upperclassmen, I did not have to say a lot,” Rowan goalkeeper Charlie Cunliffe said. ”It wasn’t just me giving direction, it was Randy Kohr and Jason Dugan.  The first couple of games will be a learning experience for us, but we have a lot of talent and a lot of potential.”

Defenders Zahrend, Jake Dunn and Brian Kahn have been a stone wall that offenses have not been able to penetrate, allowing only one goal in three games.

Midfielders Gonzalez and Loiodice have been called outstanding players by Cunliffe.  “(Gonzalez) is on fire.  Loiodice helped get him on this team, but this kid is legit,” Cunliffe said.  Loiodice moved from the center midfield to the outside but is playing well, tallying one goal on the season.

Bolton was wearing a boot and did not play in Saturday’s game.  He has a broken toe and hopes to get back for Rowan’s next game at Eastern University on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Coming into the game, the Profs were ranked third in the NJAC, while Immaculata was ranked sixth.

The favored Profs dominated early on, and despite what seemed to be a late-set comeback, the home team held on strong, winning the first set by a score of 25 – 19. The final set consisted of 11 lead changes resulting in a 15 – 12 victory for Rowan.

This is a nearly fresh start for the volleyball team this year. Only three players returned from last year’s squad, with the rest of the roster filled by incoming freshmen. Junior captain Sarah Betancourt is one of the team’s few veteran presences.

“It was a little weird at first not knowing anyone, but we really do have a great group of freshmen,” Betancourt said.  “The chemistry between us is awesome.”

Head coach Libby Ranero said that although the team is mainly composed of freshmen, it hasn’t really affected the chemistry from the previous year.

“The great thing about playing a fall sport is that when all the girls show up for training camp two weeks before classes start, they’re constantly with each other because nobody else is around,” Ranero said. “It’s also good because there’s not a big age difference between the girls. They’re all the same age, all coming into college for the first time together, and that has allowed them to bond and develop good team chemistry.”

The Profs’ next game is Saturday, Sept. 11 against Bryn Mawr College.

LeBron James is now a member of the Miami Heat, Tiger Woods is struggling mightily after the disintegration of his marriage and the Yankees and Phillies, in spite of several speed bumps along the way, both seem poised to repeat as champions of their respective leagues.

The summer’s biggest story, however, may come from a topic that really doesn’t have a story at all.

Darrelle Revis, cornerback for the National Football League’s New York Jets, signed a new four-year contract after spending an entire summer hidden from his team, and more shockingly, the media.

Players hold out for better contracts all the time in the NFL. This isn’t anything new. With Revis, though, the surprise came in the form of the fact that, as far as anybody is concerned, no real effort was made by either side to resolve this issue. Revis wanted more money. The Jets didn’t want to pay him. That’s all they knew. That’s all we knew.

If you call a spade a spade, it’s clear that the Jets are a significantly better team with “Revis Island” on the field. By the same token, however, the Jets added enough pieces throughout their offseason to compete without Revis, last season’s runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to acquiring offensive weapons such as wide receiver and former Superbowl MVP Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers and an aging, yet effective, LaDanian Tomlinson, the team bolstered their defense with fearsome defensive lineman Jason Taylor.

Don’t forget that the team traded for former San Diego Charger cornerback Antonio Cromartie and drafted last year’s Boise State standout cornerback, Kyle Wilson. You have to assume the Jets acquired these players to assist Revis, though; not to replace him.

As featured on HBO’s hit series “Hard Knocks,” it’s obvious that the Jets missed their star defensive back, often cracking jokes about his absence. In the first episode, head coach Rex Ryan checked every room in the dormitories the team stayed at asking “Darrelle, you in there?” In another episode, a magician came to entertain the team, and players shouted from the audience “Can you make Revis appear?”

It’s no secret that magicians and their tricks had no bearing on whether or not Revis decides to participate for the Jets this season. It was only a lump sum of guaranteed money made the number 24 appear on a green jersey.

In 2009, Alabama dominated their opponents, going 14-0 and winning the National Championship with Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram. Ingram ran for an improbable 20 touchdowns last season and is looking at another big year.

In spite of Alabama returning several of its key players, 2010 will likely end to the beat of a different drum.

Ohio State will win the National Championship. They have a solid quarterback in Terrelle Pryor, who is looking at taking the Heisman away from Ingram. After struggling offensively in 2009, Ohio State should grow to be more dangerous after working all off-season together.

Pryor will definitely need to step up to lead his team to the Championship game. He will have to do so with plays reminiscent of his 2009 Rose Bowl performance against the University of Oregon, where he threw 23 – 37 passes for 266 yards and ran for an additional 72 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Unlike Alabama, Ohio State has six defensive starters returning, including defensive end Cameron Heyward, who will be asked to step up into a major role this season. After only seeing approximately 60 percent of the defensive snaps last year, Heyward’s workload will increase to roughly 90 percent.

In virtually every sport, defense wins games. While the offense can make flashy plays, score points and evoke more emotion from fans than the defense, championships are won on the defensive side of the ball. College football is no different. This year’s national champion, Ohio State, will be crowned based off of their defense.

One test the system will have to face this season is the question of whether or not a team outside the major conferences can play for the title.

Boise State will be the first school from a non-major conference to not only play for the national title, but also win. With 20 of 22 starters returning from a team that went 14-0 in 2009, the Broncos are loaded on both offense and defense. Junior quarterback Kellen Moore, the program’s first legitimate Heisman contender, is looking to build on a season in which he threw for over 3,500 yards, 39 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

While that performance will be hard to repeat, the return of top targets Austin Pettis and Titus Young should only make the Boise State passing game fly.  The defense is led by two-time All-Western Athletic Conference defensive end Ryan Winterswyk and defensive tackle Billy Winn, who look to shut down opponents instead of relying on the offense to outscore them.

The two toughest tests that Boise will face this season come from out of conference foes Virginia Tech and Oregon State. Both teams start the season ranked, and the outcome of these games will determine whether or not the Broncos play for the national championship.  Unlike several of past few years where many teams with one loss played for the title, Boise will need to run the table and go undefeated during the regular season.

Coming from a non-major conference, they also face their biggest opponent: the BCS. The system usually does not favor teams like the Broncos and other small schools like Utah and TCU, which have also gone undefeated in the past, only to not play for the national championship. If Boise can take care of business during the regular season, they will have earned the right to play for the program’s first national championship, and when they get there, they will really be known as college football’s first BCS-busters.

Rowan (25-10, 11-5 NJAC) gave up two 1-0 leads in the top of the seventh and bottom of the sixth, as The College of New Jersey (28-6, 14-2 NJAC) rallied to win both games of a doubleheader, 4 – 1 and 4 – 2. Jamie Minix and Erica Knorr both pitched scoreless games through five innings, but suffered a loss at the hands of the Lions.

Both losses came in front of packed crowds at the Rowan University softball complex,  due to both Senior Day festivities and the intense rivalry between the two teams.

Unfortunately for Rowan, the Lions got the clutch hits and defensive breaks.

“You got to play well, play sound defensive at this time of the year,” said head coach Kim Wilson. “The positive part is we have things that we can improve on and come back from.”

Sophomore pitching ace Jamie Minix (15-4) came into the top of the seventh inning with a 1 – 0 lead, behind an RBI-double by senior catcher Steph Taraschi. Minix walked the lead-off batter, but forced the next two batters to ground out, with the runner on base advancing to third. With one out to go, Michelle Kent knocked a hit into center field just of reach of a diving Nikki Veneziano, plating the tying run. It was a tough day for Veneziano, who also came within inches of winning the game in bottom of the ninth inning when she crushed a pitch just foul down the left field line.

As the game went to extra innings, the international rule was implemented, giving both teams a runner on second base to start. TCNJ bunted the runner to third before executing another bunt that forced Minix to throw home. Ashley Sogluizzo ran home safe on the play at the plate, and the Lions punched in two more runs.

“We didn’t execute defensively, and they got a couple extra [runs],” Wilson said, “but I thought it was a very good game.”

The Profs suffered similar heartbreak when allowing four runs in the bottom of the sixth in Game 2, turning a 1-0 lead to a 4-1 deficit with just three outs to go. Only one of the four runs was earned, providing a rough end to a fantastic day by Knorr.

“I think she did really well,” Taraschi said. “She kept all the hitters off balance. Her stuff was moving really well. They didn’t really know how to adjust.”

Rowan provided rallies in the final three outs in both games, but fell short. Senior designated player Jamie Parks flew out to right field with runners on the corners in Game 1, and senior right fielder Heidi Smith grounded out to second with bases loaded in Game 2.

While Senior Day had two heartbreaking endings for the Profs, there’s still good reason to believe they can rebound in the conference tournament after playing well against TCNJ’s top two starting pitchers, Ashley Minervini (13-4) and Lauren Fitzsimmons (15-1).

“I think we all saw the ball well today, so we definitely know we’re capable of hitting (Minervini and Fitzsimmons),” Taraschi said.

The Profs close out the season with a doubleheader Saturday at William Paterson at 1 p.m.

Rowan (10-5) hung on to defeat Scranton (6-9) in an 8-6 victory, thanks to junior mid-fielder Alli Dickey, and senior attacks Alayna Morris and Tori Hart. Each player reached the back of the net twice to prevent the Royals’ upset.

Dickey’s second goal of the day came with seven minutes remaining, putting the Profs ahead for good. It didn’t keep them from sweating, though. The Royals stayed close throughout the game until junior attack Lauren Yee and Hart scored two goals in a three-minute span, extending the lead to 8-5 with 5:20 left.

“I think today was mostly about finishing,” Morris said. “We didn’t finish that much. Our offense has definitely improved tremendously with being more disciplined and doing what we’re supposed to, but today I think our shot selection wasn’t as great as it could be.”

The Profs held their own on defense through most of the game. Sophomore goalie Kerry Pehnke made six saves and the team caused seven of the Scranton’s 24 turnovers. However, Rowan’s defense wasn’t at its best.

“It was a scrappy game,” said junior defender Tara Dinn. “We didn’t play that clean of a defense. It was very panicked. We actually got lucky only having six goals scored on us.”

Despite the struggles, the Profs got the win, proving that the team can prevail through their struggles.

“I don’t think our work ethics as a whole was there,” said head coach Lindsay Delaney. “Sometimes, I’ve been told, you have to win ugly. I think you have to win ugly and win together, and they did that, and I can appreciate that.”

Rowan closes out its regular season next Thursday at 6 p.m. at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium against Montclair State University. With a win against the Red Hawks, the Profs will earn a clean sweep of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. A victory will also make for a valid argument to the NCAA Division III Tournament selection committee.

“This is our next opportunity, so it’s important for us to [close the regular season] with the best possible record, with best possible end to the season, and also winning games against Montclair and TCNJ to make our mark,” Delaney said.