The No. 22 ranked Rowan field hockey team’s season came to an end on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament, losing to No. 3 ranked Tufts, 3-1, at Ounjian Field in Medford, Massachusetts. The loss set Rowan’s final record at 15-8 and ended their 11-game win streak.

Rowan got off to a hot start, as Allie Palumbo scored the game’s opening goal off an insert pass from Paige Gray just three minutes into the game. It was the senior’s 17th goal of the season and also marked her final collegiate game with the Profs. Palumbo finished tied for 20th all-time on the Rowan single-season scoring leaderboard with 40 points. 

Tufts evened the score towards the end of the first quarter before taking the lead in the second quarter off a Claire Gavin goal. Kylie Rosenquest would add an insurance goal for the Jumbos in the fourth quarter, punching Tufts’ ticket to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Goalkeeper Mariah Juiliano tied her season-high in saves with 13. Her career goals allowed per game currently sits at 1.41, good for 10th all-time in the program’s history. 

This makes it two consecutive seasons with second-round exits in the tournament and while Rowan wanted to go further, they still have a lot to be proud of. The Profs claimed their fourth straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship. Head coach Michelle Andre reflected on how much of a success she thought the season was. 

“Every team will tell you if they don’t win the national championship they fell short, but at the end of the day only one team out of 100-something teams win the title,” Andre said. “But the goal of winning the conference and making a run in the NCAAs is always there and we did that.”

Team captain Tess Herman agreed with what Andre said.

“I think it was a positive season,” Herman said. “We fell short a couple times in the beginning of the season but I think all of that had to happen to go where we ended up getting. It was a big learning thing for us.”

Looking forward to next season, Rowan returns almost 80% of their offensive production as well as Juiliano in goal and all three starting defenders. Head coach Michelle Andre talked about what she expects from her team next season.

“The expectation is to be back where we were this year and not have to dig ourselves out of a hole,” Andre said. “We were prepared physically, one of the best fitness teams I’ve ever had. As far as the mental side, just be prepared sooner rather than later.”

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