ROWAN PROFS ARE 2008 LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
The Rowan University Ice Hockey team became the only team to win a championship for the school this year by winning the Great Northeast Conference title in stellar fashion. Being down by two goals twice, the Profs beat rival College of New Jersey by a final score of 5-4.
This season was one to be remembered as hard work and dedication from the start made it all possible to get over their finals loss last year and win it all now. The future is bright for this young group as there are only two seniors graduating. Preparations have already started for next year.
We want to thank all the parents, fans, sponsors, and supporters for all their dedication this year. It is also a distinguished pleasure to thank the coaching staff on their hard work and preparations all season to give Rowan their 1st title. Also a great thanks and appreciation to our greatest general manager and finally to all the players! Thank you everyone.
Rowan tops TCNJ in the Finals!
The championship game featured #2 seeded Rowan Profs against the #1 seeded College of New Jersey Lions.
In the opening minutes of the first period, Rowan maintained a strong pressure in the offensive zone however allowed TCNJ to quickly change that momentum by taking control and scoring the first goal. Rowan looked a little nervous trying to avoid mistakes and making complicated passes. TCNJ quickly added another goal to go up 2-0. Rowan being in this situation before stepped up their tempo and started putting chances on TCNJ's goaltender who played very solid overall. Eventually, freshman forward Colin Davis skated through the defense and netted his first goal of the game to draw the Profs within one goal.
In the second period, Rowan couldn't get anything started in the first ten minutes and allowed TCNJ to add to their lead with another goal letting the Profs be down 3-1. Things were about to change as the Profs regained their confidence and started putting the kind of pressure everyone was used to seeing during the regular season. The team started pressuring the oppositions defense and getting really good opportunities. Davis once again made some nifty plays and got the puck past the goaltender to get the score within one. A few minutes later, the freshman line once again pressured deep in the zone which resulted in a great tipped goal by forward Christian Biscradi. This made it all tied up going to the third period.
In the third period, Rowan came out with steam and energy which kept the opposition’s defense on their toes. The constant pressure deep in TCNJ's zone was rewarded by a goal from who else but Davis who netted his second playoff hat trick in two days. This put Rowan on top for the first time in the game. Although Rowan kept up the pressure, a small mistake made TCNJ capitalize on it to tie it all up at 4 with about six or so minutes remaining in the game. The confident Profs never gave up and with about 2 minutes remaining in the game, Biscardi was taken down while on a breakaway. NCAA rules gave the coaching staff a choice of what they wanted and a penalty shot was awarded. Biscardi was the man who started it and who was going to try to end it. The arena all on their feet saw the calm freshman make an unbelievable backhand move to roof the puck behind the goalie. Rowan never looked back afterwards holding TCNJ to nothing but dump-ins and taking the victory 5-4.
Rowan wins semi-final vs Muhlenberg
Rowan opened the 2008 playoffs by winning their opening semi-final game 9-4 against last year winners Muhlenberg College. A rematch of the last years finals the Profs were determined to move on. It was a tight game during the first period but Rowan eventually prevailed and moved on to the finals to take on College of New jersey.
