Rowan field hockey couldn’t come away with a victory because of a goal that might’ve been scored by themselves.

The No. 25 ranked Rowan Profs lost a tight battle to non-conference opponent and the No. 13 ranked Bryn Mawr Owls by a final score of 2-1 on Sept. 25. The loss dropped the Profs to 4-4 on the season and snapped a three-game winning streak.

Rowan had every opportunity to win the game, outshooting Bryn Mawr 10-5 and earning seven corners to the Owls’ one. However, a slow start ultimately proved too much for the Profs to overcome.

Bryn Mawr’s first goal of the game came midway through the first quarter, but they might have Rowan to thank for it. In an attempt to clear the ball out of a big scrum in front of the cage, a Rowan player hit the ball towards goalkeeper Mariah Juiliano but instead found the back of the cage for an own goal. It’s unclear if the ball had assistance from a deflection by Bryn Mawr’s Reba Ervin, who was credited with the goal, but it nonetheless was a huge mistake on Rowan’s part.

The Owls doubled their lead in the middle of the second quarter off a powerful shot from Novy Goetgulek, which ended up being all the cushion Bryn Mawr needed. Rowan got on the board in the third quarter after forward Lily Bataloni gathered the rebound from a shot off the post and hammered the ball home. Rowan couldn’t find an equalizer and instead had to settle for a 2-1 defeat.

Head coach Michelle Andre was disappointed with the loss, particularly because she knew the outcome could’ve been much different.

“I think it’s one we left on the table,” Andre said. “They [Bryn Mawr] took advantage of their opportunity in the first quarter and they never looked back. We definitely left something on the table.”

Captain Tess Herman agreed with Andre’s assessment while providing her own insight into what was lacking.

“We didn’t come out playing well in the first quarter, which is something that can’t happen,” Herman said. “The second half, I think we definitely won that half. If we came out playing that way in the first half I think we would’ve won today.”

To Herman’s point, Rowan played noticeably better in the second half. Along with scoring their lone goal, the Profs did not allow Bryn Mawr to get a single shot off while taking seven of their own. The Profs also dominated time of possession and were constantly on the attack throughout the back half of the game.

“We played like how Rowan field hockey should play,” Herman said in reference to the second half. “We were stepping up to balls, moving the balls, and being more aggressive. That’s how Rowan field hockey should always be played.”

As Rowan begins to reach the midpoint of the season, there is still time to work the kinks out and play more consistently. Andre knows one particular aspect she would like to see improved.

“We need to shoot more,” Andre stated. “We need to shoot and get ourselves in lanes for deflections and I’d like to see our midfielders come into the top of the circle and take quality shots.”

Rowan has an opportunity to get back in the win column, facing another ranked team in No. 17 Shenandoah. The game will be played at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 at noon.

As captain, Herman will do her part to make sure her teammates are ready to go come Saturday.

“I need to help keep everyone’s heads up,” Herman said. “We need to have the energy up and build momentum going into Saturday, and that starts with me.

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