Men's College Soccer
Fairfield University 1, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE?The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Fairfield Sunday. It marked the third straight game that Rider (5-7-1, 0-3-1 MAAC) lost 1-0, and the second straight game that the Broncs out-shot their opponent. “In our four conference games it has been 1-1, 0-1, 0-1, 0-1, so it can't get much closer for us,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager.
Fairfield (7-3-2, 2-1-1 MAAC) scored in the 61st minute of play on a goal by Sam Bailey, his team-high sixth of the season. “Today was a little bit of bad luck,” Fager said. “We had three or four great chances and I think they had two. They got one of the two and we didn't.”
Rider out-shot Fairfield 22-13. “We not only had a lot of shots, I thought we had some quality shots, which is the important thing,” Fager said. “We challenged the guys to put together two good halves and I think we did that today.”
Rider junior goalkeeper Randall Zapolski (Lawrence) made eight saves, while Matt Cleveland made seven saves for the Stags. “There were a lot of positives to take away with the guys play today,” Fager said. “They really worked hard. They accepted the challenge and we'll see if they can do it again.”
Several players stood out in Fager's mind today.
“I thought that Ock (senior Mark Ockenhouse of Doylestown, Pa.) had another great game today,” Fager said. “He played very, very well. I thought that AJ (junior AJ Parillo of South River) did a good job for us up front, and I thought (freshman Andrew) Cotes (of Selden, N.Y./Newfield High) coming in as a sub did a great job for us. He got himself involved up front.” Parillo had five of Rider's shots.
Rider lost to 15th ranked Fairfield 1-0 last season. Rider and Fairfield have met 15 times since the series began in 1996, with Rider winning five and Fairfield winning nine, with one tie. Rider last beat Fairfield in 2004. “When you are playing a team as deep and talented as Fairfield is and you put them through what they had to go through today, I think that is a very good sign,” Fager said.
Rider travels to Saint Peter's College for a MAAC game Friday, the first of three consecutive road games. “We seem to do better on the road (4-4-1) so far this year,” Fager said, “so I'm looking forward to getting back on the road and see if we can get a couple ?Ws'.”
The MAAC Championship is held at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Florida this year, with all 10 teams competing in the NCAA qualifying tournament. “I think we proved to ourselves today that when we do get to Disney we can play with anybody,” Fager said.
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