Glassboro, NJ – Stockton University (14-4-4) used a defense-first game plan to keep its NJAC semifinal at #6 Rowan (17-2-1) scoreless until a Profs' goal with just one second left in double overtime eliminated the Ospreys 1-0. The teams were one tick away from a shootout when the ball went into the net at 109:59.
 
No. 5 seed Stockton was outshot 26-5 as they sat back and focused on fending off No. 1 seed Rowan and trying to capitalize on a miscue or counterattack. The Ospreys leaned heavily on goalkeeper Kellen Groover (Florence/Life Center Academy), who rose to the occasion with a career-high nine saves.
 
The teams combined for just one shot on goal in the first half, which Groover stopped. The senior made four more saves in the second half and Stockton survived a shot off the post with 8:30 left in regulation, seven minutes after Kelly Blidi (Trenton/Trenton Catholic) registered the only shot of goal of the game by the Ospreys. Stockton then snuffed three shots and three corner kicks by Rowan in the first overtime.
 
The Ospreys stuck with their defensive mindset in the second OT and Groover made three more saves. Rowan took a corner kick with nine seconds left that resulted in a shot that was blocked. The ball bounced to Jake Connors, whose 20-yard blast from the right wing just beat the horn to oust Stockton from the NJAC Tournament 1-0.

Stockton, which produced a seven-win improvement over last season, had a knack for late-game success all year. The Ospreys won three games in overtime, on goals by Dan Marino (Turnersville/Washington Twp.), Eucario Solano (Galloway/Absegami) and Justin Ruiz (Wayne/Wayne Hills).
 
Solano's tying goal with 26 seconds remaining in regulation against Rutgers-Camden last week kept their season alive and Ervin Gjeli (Hasbrouck Hts./Hasbrouck Hts.) netted the winner with 5:19 left in the NJAC first round game against Kean on Saturday. On this night however, Stockton found itself on the other side of a dramatic finish.