Brian Rowland’s first match against a Philadelphia opponent since taking over the men’s soccer program at Temple will rekindle a rivalry that dates back to his days playing indoor for the Baltimore Blast.
Rowland was a goalkeeper for the Blast from 2003-2006 while Saint Joseph’s University head coach Don D’Ambra was the star forward and head coach of the Philadelphia Kixx.
“We didn’t know each other personally, but we definitely knew of each other,” D’Ambra said.
D’Ambra ended up playing 14 seasons with the Kixx while Rowland moved on to outdoor soccer with Crystal Palace Baltimore before joining Sasho Cirovski’s staff at the University of Maryland.