Rowan Claims Division I Crown

Feasterville, PA - Rowan University claimed the Division I Regional Championship with an 8-4 victory over Buffalo.

 

It didn't take long for the scoring to start in this one as Rowan found the back of the net on just the first shot of the game. Andrew Amand fed Eric Jones whose wrist shot found the back of the net for the early lead.

 

It wasn't nearly as quick, but Buffalo got on the board when Bryan Feiler fired a shot through that beat a screen Phil DaSilva to tie things at one.

 

With Feiler in the penalty box for boarding, Jones and Amand hooked up for the second time in the period. After taking the feed, Jones lined up and blasted a slap shot that beat D'Amico and gave Rowan a 2-1 lead.

Buffalo got things back square again with Jones in the box for hooking. After setting up in the zone, Matt McNeil fired a slap shot that landed in the slot and Eric Gunderson slammed home the rebound to get things tied back up again.

 

Rowan once ahead pull ahead, when Vince Massamimi found Andrew Amand for the goal, his third point of the game and a 3-2 lead.

 

With just under three minutes to go in the second period Shane Cieland found Matt McNeil, who fired a wrist shot off the post to tie things up for the third straight time.

 

The final minute of the second period was all Rowan. Enjoying a man advantage Massamimi laced a wrist shot above a surprised D'Amico for the 4-3 lead. And for the first time in the contest, Rowan took a two goal lead when Brett Balco fired home a wrist shot just 26 second later that found the back of the net. Kyle Stokes and Joseph Riffitts were credited with the assists.

 

With Rowan out shooting Buffalo 19-13 after two periods, Buffalo needed something to change the flow of the game. The answer was found while on the man advantage when Gunderson and McNeil hooked up for the second time and cut the lead in half at 5-4. 

 

Amand didn't want the lead to dwindle and quickly restored the two goal advantage, going in all alone and firing home his second goal of the contest to put Rowan back on top 6-4. Amand set up the next Rowan goal as a Buffalo penalty was expiring, passing it off to Massamimi who notched his second goal of the game. Amand then added an empty netter for the final 8-4 margin.