Alexa Ronning lifts Rowan field hockey over Washington College

Alexa Ronning scored the game-winning goal as Rowan field hockey defeated Washington College, 2-1, on Wednesday at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium. Despite some last-minute nail-biting as Washington controlled possession, the game ended in regulation, and Rowan picked up their fifth win of the season.

“I really just try for every shot to get my power, stay alone and go through the ball,” Ronning said. “If I don’t get it in the back of the cage, I know my teammates are going to be there for me to tip that ball in.”

Rowan field hockey couldn’t seem to connect to begin Wednesday’s meeting with Washington College. The Profs got two corners in the first quarter, and two more in back-to-back form in the second quarter, but couldn’t find a really good scoring chance to take the lead.

Early in the second, MaryCate Anson, a captain for the visiting Shorewomen, scored an unassisted goal to give Washington a 1-0 lead. It didn’t sit well with Rowan, and they did something about it to rewrite the script for the game.

“You could tell the team wanted to want it more,” head coach Michelle Andre said. “They needed to get some things together.”

Late into the third quarter, down just one goal, Rowan still couldn’t seem to find the cage. Washington shut down three straight Rowan corners, which were big opportunities for Rowan to get back, as the game seemed to be running shorter and shorter on time and opportunities. 

Then, off a high-flying ricochet from Washington goalie Charlotte Schurman, Mia Foti collected a rebound, controlled it on the ground, and it knocked a perfect goal. It was exactly what Rowan needed to completely reset the game late in the third quarter.

“We knew we were in this together,” Mia Foti said. “Like, we knew there wasn’t going to be a way one person was going to do this. We knew that we all had to work together, and I think going into the second half, we did that.”

Early in the final frame, Washington’s Samantha McMahon got running on a breakaway, a potential threat for Rowan to go back down by a goal late in the game. Mariah Juiliano stood firm, never leaving her post and possibly giving a shot angle to McMahon, who missed wide right and expressed some frustration about doing so, knowing she’d given up a chance to get back ahead. 

“She did a really nice job of holding her post and not coming out,” Andre said. “The girl took herself out of a shooting angle. And if (Juliano) comes and gets her, like, she leaves the goal open, and she didn’t do that. I think just being patient and in that situation was a big win for us.”

With a squad that is tied for 18th in the nation, every win is back to stay in the national ranking and gear up towards conference play, which begins in two weeks.

“Obviously, we’ve gone down in the rankings,” Ronning said. “Everyone’s coming for Rowan, and we just have to make a statement.”