NCAA Men's Soccer: Second-Half Goals Lift Rowan to Victory; Profs Face Stevens Sunday
Saturday, November 12, 2022
HOBOKEN, NJ – Johnny Troiano and Chad Yates scored second-half goals to lift Rowan to a 3-2 win over #20 Middlebury in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship first round hosted by Stevens. The Profs (12-5-5) will meet fourth-ranked Stevens (16-0-3) on Sunday at 3 p.m. in a second-round contest.
With the game tied, 2-2, Yates connected on a 30-yard free kick for his seventh gamewinner of the season at 68:13, which was his team-best 13th goal of the year.
That goal came just six minutes after Troiano tied it, 2-2, when Davide Caputo crossed the ball and Turlough Gartlan knocked a chest pass to the freshman, who scored on a high shot at 62:46.
Rowan scored first when Gil Ferreira followed in his own rebound just 10 minutes into the match.
Middlebury tied it up just two minutes later when the Panthers were awarded a penalty kick after a Rowan foul. Jordan Saint-Louis converted the scored at 12:26 to tie the game at 1-1. The Panthers then went ahead, 2-1, at 25:44, as Saint-Louis crossed the ball to Kyle Nilsson, who headed it in.
That score held up for 35 minutes minute until Troiano netted the equalizer at 62:46.
Rowan goalkeeper Dylan Aportela had to make a career-high eight saves to earn the win, while it marked the first time in his career that he was scored upon twice. The sophomore had a stretch of seven shutouts in the last eight games, while allowing just one goal during that time.
The Profs will be looking to advance to the NCAA Round of 16 for the second time in the last three seasons of competition, as they got there in 2019.