The Rowan University women’s soccer team extended their winning streak to five and are 7-1 now after they defeated the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders this past Saturday 3-1. 

In the second New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) match, the Profs scored in the 23rd and 27th minutes of the first half, which gave them the early lead. 

Natalie Pantalone, forward/midfielder, sent the ball to the back of the net for the third time this season, followed by Emma DeMaise, back, who scored her second goal of the season off a penalty kick.

DeMaise is usually calm on the field, but stepping up to the marker, she needed some reminders from her teammates to have fun.

“When I was walking up, everyone was coming up to me and just and saying ‘Just have fun’ because before each game, and even during, I’m kind of like the person to calm everyone down and say like ‘C’mon guys lets have fun.’ That’s all that really matters,” DeMaise said. “And they said that as a way to calm me down before the penalty kick.” 

Right before halftime Aidan Sheehan, forward/midfielder, made her sixth goal of the season, giving the Profs a 3-0 lead by halftime. Goalie Bristol Pizzuto executed eight saves and gave up one goal in minute 55 to solidify their win. 

One stand-out player of the game, Emma DeMaise, has been solid all season, she’s started all seven games, she has also scored twice this season, both of which have been on fouls inside the box. She is a key factor in the Profs defense, which has only surrendered three goals all season. 

“She’s just very steady. She doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes in the back. She’s very skillful,” Head Coach Scott Leacott said. “She’s just rock solid back there, she’s very good in the air, very composed, she’s been actually fantastic for us this year.” 

Coach Leacott continued on by saying how impressed he has been with DeMaise’s performance this season.

“We knew what she’s capable of doing, but just as a first year player, and obviously last year with the pandemic she didn’t get the chance to step onto the field and play in games,” said Leacott. “But as a first year player she’s just done a tremendous job for us.” 

In the last eight games, they have scored in the first half in six of them. These early leads sparked the momentum they used to bolster their second half scoring.

“It’s definitely important to start strong because scoring at the beginning, and really working hard in the beginning, really sets the pace of the game,” DeMaise said. “It really dictates how the rest of the game is going to go.”

Scoring early is something the Profs will try to do in their next matchup against The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on Wednesday. TCNJ is 7-0, was ranked #1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) preseason poll, and they also won the last three NJAC Championships. 

“It’s one game. I don’t worry about their motivation or anything like that going into it,” Coach Leacott said. “It’s going to be a great game. The focus will be there. The drive will be there. It’s just a matter of trying to get the result.”

The Profs lost their game against TCNJ on Wednesday night 3-1, snapping their winning streak and bringing their record to 7-2.

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