It was an incredibly close game—scoreless for 75 of the 80 minutes—but in the end, the Rowan University women had prevailed over Arcadia on Oct. 3 in their annual soccer game 2-0. But this year it was special, and personal. The presidents of Arcadia and Rowan are close personal friends. And there was a challenge.

Losing the challenge, Arcadia President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III wore a Rowan shirt all day on Oct. 14, including to a meeting with AU’s Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee. View slideshow.

“If one or two things had gone our way, Dr. (Ali) Houshmand would be wearing Arcadia scarlet,” says President Oxholm. “I was extraordinarily proud of our women that day, and I wear Rowan’s colors today eagerly awaiting our re-match next year.

“I picked this day to wear a Rowan T-shirt because,” he adds, “tonight, we are inducting into the Arcadia University Athletic Hall of Fame Mary R. Marino, Beaver College Class of 1964, long-time coach of Rowan’s women lacrosse and the assistant coach of the Rowan field hockey team that won the Division III National Championship in 2002. Our graduates are producing greatness wherever they go, even at Rowan!”

“I told the team that scarlet, particularly Arcadia scarlet, is not something they want to see me wear,” said Dr. Houshmand, President of Rowan University. “It was a great game, but we already have a pair of Rowan socks to go with Tobey’s shirt for next year’s game.”

Rowan’s women’s soccer is a national powerhouse, ranking #6 in the country at the time that they played Arcadia. Arcadia’s women are also having an excellent year, climbing to a #24 national ranking for the first time in the school’s history.

“We now have a full-time strength and conditioning coach, and we will be getting our first turf field, so by this time next year… well, I have already sent Ali our shirt to have ready to wear!” says President Oxholm.