Women's College Soccer
Siena College 2, Rider University 1
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
WEST WINDSOR?The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Siena held at Mercer County Community College Sunday. “I thought we played well,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long. “We didn't play poorly. We made some mistakes that cost us.”
Rider (5-9-3, 1-6 MAAC) got on the board with just 14 minutes left to play, as senior Stephanie Madden (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) sent in a pass to sophomore Alison Brody (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac), who scored her third goal of the season, cutting the lead to 2-1. “The goal we scored was a good goal,” Long said. “It was the first time in a while we were able to score.”
“I hit the ball through two defenders and Allie took it and placed it perfectly in the net,” said Madden, who was playing in her final home game.
Even though the game was held at Mercer, it was the last home game for four graduating seniors. “You want to finish on a good note for your seniors,” Long said, “so that was a little disappointing.”
Playing in their final home game along with Madden were senior Amy Vinarsky (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley), senior Michele Ripoll (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Boro) and senior Shana Herman (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East).
“Shana has been such a strong presence in the back for four years,” Long said. Herman started all 75 games of her Rider career. “I didn't realize she started every game of her career,” Long said. “That is quite an accomplishment that shows how valuable she is. She plays hard every day and has been such a good leader for us.”
“Hopefully I'll be teaching next year,” said Herman, an Elementary Education/Psychology major. “I came to Rider because the education program is very good, as well as the soccer team. They both offered great opportunities for me. I'm very happy I chose Rider.”
“Shana is a very tough defender and a good leader for us as a captain,” Long said.
Playing in her 72nd Rider game, Madden is a two-time MAAC All-Academic team member who is sixth in career goals at Rider and eighth in career points. “Madden is fearless,” Long said. “She has scored a lot of goals for us over the years.”
“I will be working next year as a media coordinator,” said Madden, a Communication/Journalism major. “I'm psyched about that. I can't wait to work 9 to 5.”
The seniors are now beginning to look back on their Rider careers as they prepare for their next career. “There are so many fond memories, like the dance parties in the locker room, the celebration of goals scored,” Madden said. “A lot of great memories no one in particular. All I know is it was a good decision for me to come to Rider.”
“The things I'll remember most about my time at Rider is all the friends I've made at Rider,” Herman said, “and the first goal I scored my first game freshman year.”
Siena (7-8-1, 4-3 MAAC) scored in the ninth minute of play on a goal by Tabitha Tice, her eighth goal of the season. Tice set up Susie Blaisdell for her fifth goal of the season in the 26th minute, as Siena took a 2-0 lead into half time.
Siena out-shot Rider 11-8. Freshman goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made four saves for Rider, while Patti Carroll made two saves for Siena.
Rider won 1-0 at Siena last season. The Saints went on to finish fourth and advance to the 2006 MAAC tournament championship game. Rider and Siena have now met 12 times in the series that began in 1997, with the series now tied at 5-5-2.
Rider began the season undefeated in it first five games (two wins, three ties) and finished the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 4-3-3 record.
In the MAAC Rider jumped out to a 1-0 start with a 5-0 victory but hasn't been able to win a conference game since. “We are playing in a conference that has clearly elevated its play over the last several years from top to bottom,” Long said, “so if you are a team that doesn't score many goals, you are going to be challenged, no matter how well you defense plays.”
The game was held on Mercer's artificial turf field due to Rider's wet grass field from the weekend's rain.
Rider completes the season on the road, with MAAC games at Iona Friday and Fairfield Sunday. “Hopefully we get everything together for the last two games,” Long said.
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