GLASSBORO, NJ  (Sept. 1, 2010) – The Rowan University women's soccer team opened the 2010 season with a 4-0 win over Arcadia University on Wednesday night. The Profs are beginning the 2010 season as the #17 ranked team in Division III according to the NSCAA preseason rankings, after finishing the 2009 season 17-3-1 while going undefeated in the NJAC regular season and advancing to the third round of the NCAA Championships. Arcadia, coming off an impressive 15-2-3 season in 2009, returned 9 players from last year's squad to the starting lineup, which also featured the debut of two first year starters in Sara Volk-Perez (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) and Rachel Dolly '14 (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) 

“We faced a very strong Rowan squad last night with many returning stars,” head coach Rick Brownell revealed.  “Rowan sports one of the strongest group of attackers in division III and to face them in the first game of the year was a true test for the team.”  Arcadia's defense displayed some bouts of solid defensive stands against the Rowan attack but ultimately allowed Rowan to capitalize on too many opportunities in the box.  Katie O'Malley '11 (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville  Area) played well through the midfield, and led the Knights with 4 shots, and Janelle Jablonski '11 (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) worked very hard to produce up top and even stripped the ball from the Rowan keeper at the top of the box, only to take a dribble too wide to finish the opportunity.  Newcomers Kelley Gallagher '14 (Mullica Hills, NJ/Clearview) and Dolly  played extremely well in various positions and defender CJ McDonnell '13 (Glenwood, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) had a standout effort as well.

The Profs were led by forward Jess Babice (sr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) with one goal and one assist.  Forward Veronica Rhea (jr. Pennsauken, NJ/Paul VI) and midfielders Leah Carney (jr. Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) and Marina Mangano (so. Cape May Court House, NJ/Middle Twp.) each found the net once. 

Rowan went ahead 1-0 at 7:08 in the first period when Rhea converted a penalty kick.  At 19:17, Carney scored on two quick passes from Babice and Fink to give the Profs a 2-0 halftime advantage.  At 53:06 in the second period, Babice recorded a goal on a feed from Donnian.  Mangano took a shot at 73:22 from straight on that went off the All Commonwealth second year keeper Jackie Law's '13 (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) hands and into the net.

Rowan (1-0) took 15 shots and Arcadia (0-1) had eight.  Profs' goalkeeper Deana Wood (fr. Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Reg.) made five saves in her collegiate debut for the shutout.  Law stopped one shot in 86:20 for the Knights while Jacquelyn Eckert '11 (Toms River, NJ/Toms River S.) played the final 3:40.

The Knights travel to the Haverford Kick-off Classic this weekend where they will take on host Haverford College on Saturday at 1 PM.  The team will return to the field at Haverford on Sunday against an opponent yet to be determined.