Women's Field Hockey- 2002 DIII Nat'l Champs

Lambert Cup Award - Best DIII Football Team in East Region: 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001

 

 

 

 

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Prof Field Hockey Team wins National Championship, defeats Messiah 1-0

SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Rowan University field hockey team defeated Messiah College, 1-0 in the championship final of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Midfielder Michelle Thornton (jr. Holy Cross/Delran, NJ) recorded the game winning goal at 34:06. Thornton scored on a penalty corner. Back Jackie Massara (jr. Hammonton/Hammonton, NJ) took the corner and midfielder Jess Wadleigh (jr. West Morris Mendham/Chester, NJ) also had an assist on the goal. It was Thornton’s eighth goal on the season. For the game, Rowan totaled 13 penalty corners while Messiah had seven.

Thornton was named to the All-Tournament team along with backs Renée Phelps (sr. Lenape/Mt. Laurel, NJ) and Lindsay Hanson (sr. Collingswood/Collingswood, NJ) and forward Becky Peterson (jr. Salem/Hancocks Bridge, NJ). The Profs finished the season undefeated with a 21-0 record. It is the first time Rowan has won a national women’s team championship. The 21 wins is a school record, the old mark was 18 when the team finished 18-3 in 1998. This was the first time the field hockey team reached the title game. Prior the Profs advanced to the semifinals in 2000 and 1998.

Rowan ended the game with 16 shots while Messiah had six. In the second half, the Profs outshot the Falcons, 7-0. In the Rowan goal, Christine Buteas (jr. S. Plainfield/S. Plainfield, NJ) had four saves for her 10th shutout. For Messiah, goalie Erica Nelson (so. Washington/Princess Anne, MD) stopped eight shots.

In the semifinals, Rowan defeated Salisbury, 3-2 in two overtimes while Messiah had a 1-0 shutout over The College of New Jersey. In the tournament, Rowan advanced with wins over McDaniel, 4-1 and Mary Washington, 5-0 in the second and third rounds respectively. It was Rowan’s 11th appearance in the national tournament. Messiah ends the year with an 18-4 record. This was the Falcon’s 16th trip to the NCAAs. During the regular season, Rowan won at Messiah, 4-3 (Sept. 19).

Rowan’s last national championship was in 1996 by the men’s basketball team. The school has 11 NCAA championships overall (baseball - 1979, 1978; men’s basketball - 1996; men’s soccer - 1990, 1981; men’s outdoor track and field - 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980).