As the postseason is quickly approaching, the Rowan women’s soccer team is gearing up to face their final two opponents and see where their regular season record will leave them going into the NJAC tournament. 

The story of this season so far has been close games, with 12 of their 15 games so far ending in a two or less goal difference. The last three games were no different. 

On Thursday, they defeated Rutgers-Camden 1-0 but on Saturday lost to Rutgers-Newark 0-1. In the make-up game from a rain-delay against Alvernia University on Monday, they reversed the results once again back in their favor in a 1-0 win. 

While dropping one of these games didn’t help their position in the NJAC tournament, especially since Rutgers-Newark is a NJAC opponent, the other two games did help and also highlighted the fact that the team has improved in these close matchups. 

In fact, prior to the victory against Eastern University earlier this month, the team was only able to pick up two wins in their games that were decided by two goals or less. However, since then, including the past three games from this week, the team has won four of their last five games and three of those wins were decided by two goals or less. 

It is clear to see that the team has done something to improve their play in these close games to help them be able to finish on the offensive side of the ball and, according to junior Aidan Sheehan, it all comes down to the team’s relationship off the field. 

“I feel honestly coming together as a team and being close off the field has definitely helped a lot,” Sheehan said. “I think just bonding and coming together has helped us with our offensive movement.”

Sheehan also feels like an improvement has been made in her own personal play and it has been showing especially in the last two victories, seeing as she was the one to score both games’ winning goals. 

“I think it comes down to staying composed,” Sheehan said. “Obviously being in front of the net, that is my job to put balls in the back of the net and I’ve actually been struggling a little bit this year so I did talk to Coach about it and just trying to find the corners is what I found helps.”

Looking ahead at these final two games next week, the team hopes to continue on the streak they have been on this month and not let the beginning of the season troubles affect them.

After talking with the team, Sheehan is feeling very confident they can do this. 

“We have definitely struggled more this year than we have in the past and I think everyone is aware of that and we know we can be better and have so much potential,” Sheehan said. “We did just have a big team talk so everyone is really pumped up and looking forward to the rest of the season and even though things might have not gone our way as much as they should have, the tournament gives us the opportunity to go forward and start fresh, so we are all excited and pumped up.”

The team’s final push towards the postseason continues on Saturday Oct. 26 in a big conference game against Ramapo College at home.

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