The No. 9 ranked Rowan Field Hockey team picked up its sixth win of the season after a 1-0 win over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Stockton University. This was Rowan’s first NJAC win of the season, moving their conference record to 1-1.
It was a tight, defensive battle throughout, the one and only goal of the game didn’t come until the opening seconds of the second quarter when Sidney Pavlishin delivered a strike that went right through the goalie’s legs and in for her fourth goal of the year.
“I got it, the ball was in the circle,” Pavlishin said. “The girl was on me. I turned and, I mean, it was not my strongest shot. But I thought it was blocked, then I looked up again and it was right through the goalkeeper’s legs, and I could not believe it. I think we all felt it at that moment. It was really nice.”
While Pavlishin’s goal proved to be the difference, the Profs had a late-game scare. With just under five minutes to go, Stockton midfielder Carlee Thompson got a good look off of a penalty corner, but luckily for the Profs, Aida Ingram made the save.
“It’s only the second game of NJACs and we shut them out,” Ingram said. “My heart dropped right when I thought it was a goal, and now it’s zero-zero. We got to get it back and the ref said no goal. I was like, ‘Am I dreaming right now? Is it my lucky day? I can get a redo.”
Ingram wasn’t lucky, but dominant, as she picked up four saves en route to her second career shutout win. Ingram’s stellar defensive play gave the Profs the time to make the necessary adjustments to counter Stockton’s physicality.
“I think we fought hard,” Head coach Michelle Andre said. “We played a very fast-paced game. We controlled the midfield, which was important. They came out as physical and we made really good adjustments in game to what they were doing with us, and we found the back of the net.“
The Profs shifted their offensive approach, looking for more opportunities for corners.
“Getting the ball, tracking the ball right, using our outside middies to get the balls down to our forwards, getting our forwards and then our forwards penetrating and looking to penetrate in a circle and draw corners,” Coach Andre said.
Rowan will look for win number seven when they travel to Maryland to take on St. Mary’s University on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 pm.
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