SEWELL, NJ.- The Centurions traveled to Rowan College at Gloucester County on Tuesday for a Region XIX Quaterfinal match. The Roadrunners entered the contest ranked 7th in the nation in the latest NJCAA DIII National Poll.
Just two weeks ago Rowan College at Gloucester County downed Bucks 3-1 in a regular season contest. The story would not be the same this time. The Centurions were coming off a huge comeback victory over EPAC rival Northampton this past Saturday.
The resiliency of the Centurions was tested early as the Roadrunners took six shots on goal in the first half compared to Bucks' two. Josiah Gibboni was lights out though making sure nothing slipped by. We would be scoreless at the break. The defense would continue in the second half as Gibboni faced another six shots. The Centurions would have opportunities as well including a shot by Derek Czerniak that hit the crossbar and somehow couldn't find the net dropping ever so close. Regulation would end at a standstill. Two ten-minute sudden death periods were not enough to settle this one either as Gibboni and Rowan's goalkeeper Chris Lenahan would not budge. The game would go to penalty kicks and even that proved to be a difficult task in crowning a victor.
After the first set of penalty kicks the score remained tied at four a piece. Joseph Essig and Nikolai Tsekirov would score to keep it tied at six before Rowan's goalkeeper Lenahan would break the tie and secure the win for the Roadrunners. "I am very proud of everybody they played their hearts out and we were in it to the very end" stated Head Coach Justin Burroughs.
Rowan advances to the semifinals to face Bergen Community College as they too advanced on penalty kicks over Brookdale Community College.
Bucks falls to 13-6-1 overall on the season which saw the Centurions name three players to the All-Region team, one to the All-Conference team and receive Co-Coach of the year honor in which Burroughs also became the second all-time most winningest coach in school history. The Centurions have a lot to be proud of.
The Centurions will return Fall 2017.
