Rowan University overcame a strong goaltending performance from Delaware’s Andrew Gatti to secure a 2-1 victory Friday night at Hollydell Ice Arena, evening their season series with the Blue Hens in Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference play.
The game marked a significant turnaround for Rowan, which had struggled mightily against Delaware in their previous two meetings this season. The Blue Hens had dominated the February matchup 12-3 and took the September contest 5-3, making Friday’s result all the more impressive for the home side.
Delaware’s James Mangano provided the lone offensive spark for the visitors, finding the back of the net for his goal of the campaign. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome Rowan’s balanced attack and home-ice advantage. The Blue Hens received another stellar performance from goaltender Andrew Gatti, who turned aside 28 of 30 shots for a .933 save percentage, but the two goals that got past him proved to be the difference.
Despite the loss, Delaware can take solace in Gatti’s continued strong play between the pipes and Mangano’s ability to find the scoresheet. For Rowan, the victory represents a crucial confidence boost after their struggles against this Delaware squad, proving they can compete with a team that had previously dominated the season series.
