Rowan field hockey on hunt for five straight conference titles

Off a powerful 15–8 season that featured a spotless 6–0 mark in NJAC competition, Rowan field hockey heads into the 2025 campaign with an overhauled roster and an appetite to once again be crowned conference champions. 

The Profs have been dominant in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). And voters agree, with the team currently ranked No. 1 in the NJAC preseason poll. Rowan field hockey has won the conference championship for the past four straight seasons. The team will look to have their 2025 season end with five straight conference titles, the first occurrence in the NJAC since Trenton State College, now known as TCNJ, won 11 in a row from 1985-1995.

To go along with their conference success, Rowan field hockey has also made two straight trips to the NCAA Championship in 2024 and 2023. However, both trips were scarred by losses to Tufts in the national title game.

The Profs had a strong offense and solid defense last season, scoring 74 to opponents’ 36 and averaging 15 shots on goal per contest. Much of that was thanks to senior Allie Palumbo, who graduated this past spring. The 2024 squad made its presence known with an offense-heavy, up-tempo approach that created scoring opportunities in bunches. Palumbo led the charge with 17 goals. Now, the Profs will look towards the rest of their young core to replace Palumbo’s presence on the field.

Lucky for them, numerous key scorers for the Profs will return to the team in 2025, including sophomore Jenna Gray. Gray burst onto the scene with one of the region’s highest-scoring shooting seasons at .857 shots on goal (SOG) %, along with 14 goals and seven assists. Senior midfielder Alexa Ronning added a well-rounded five goals and five assists, and supporting players such as senior Sidney Pavlishin, junior Gracie Merrick, and sophomore Mia Foti add depth and scoring.

On the defensive side, the Profs held opponents to just 8.9 shots per game and leaned on the consistent goalkeeping of now-senior Mariah Juiliano, who made 104 saves and returns as the closer in goal. Rowan also accumulated 215 penalty corners, showcasing their ability to control the speed and tempo of matches.

One of the key returners on the defense this fall is senior Tess Herman. The reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Conference selection, she started in all 23 games of the 2024 season. Herman contributed on both ends with three goals, solid distribution, and elite defensive positioning. Her leadership and composure will be crucial in anchoring a backline that will be without several of last year’s senior contributors. Her presence also gives Rowan one of the most experienced and decorated defenders in the region in their backfield.

In the goal, Juiliano will be instrumental in organizing the defense and bringing consistency. With her between the pipes and a set of physical defenders in front of her, Rowan’s defense cannot be broken.

Gray will handle primary scoring duties, with Ronning and Pavlishin adding senior savvy and adaptability down the middle of the field. At the back, Herman, along with veteran senior Paige Yocum and juniors Olivia Griffin and Aurelia McManus, will play larger roles, giving depth and reliability to a retooled backline.

All these components together prove how tooled Rowan field hockey is. A team once again poised to make a big statement in the NJAC and set up with all the parts needed to change their destiny in games on the national stage.