Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, George Mason University 0
WEST HARTFORD, Conn.--Led by the play of a pair of freshmen, the Broncs began the 2007 season with a victory. “It was the first time we played and it was nice to get out there against another opponent, especially one of the quality of George Mason, and have some positive results,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long. “That makes for a really great first game.”
Freshman Lauren Musumeci (Annandale/North Hunterdon) scored two goals Friday to lead Rider to victory over George Mason in the first round of the adidas/Hartford Fall Classic, hosted by the University of Hartford.
Musumeci scored her first collegiate goal 4:33 into the second half, on just the second shot of the game for Rider (1-0), giving the Broncs a 1-0 lead. “The ball was just kind of bouncing around the six yard mark and I was just able to split two defenders and get a little bit of a touch on it,” Musumeci remembered. “It just trickled past the goalie. I was excited, getting my first goal for Rider. It gave me confidence. As a freshman you come in nervous in your first game.”
Apparently the nervousness wore off.
Musumeci scored again four minutes later off of a rebound for a 2-0 Rider lead. “Kara Perkoski made a nice crossing pass that the goalie got a finger on before Musumeci put it home,” Long said. “Kara made a run down the sideline and I was just trailing in, running through the box,” Musumeci said. “On her cross the goalie just got her finger tips on it and I was able to kick it in.”
At North Hunterdon High School Musumeci earned First Team All-Conference, All-Area, All-West Jersey honors while leading her team to the Group IV State finals. Musumeci was the North Hunterdon Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a National Honor Society member who ranked sixth in her class.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made five saves for the shutout in her collegiate debut. “As a freshman coming in she made some big plays,” Long said, “some big saves that kept us in the game.”
“Everyone worked really well together,” Post said.
Mason out-shot Rider 6-1 in the first half. It was 5-0 in shots, two shots on goal and one shot that hit the post, before Rider's first shot on the Mason net at the 30:47 mark. “I was thankful the post was there on that one shot,” said Post, “goal posts really are the goalie's best friend.”
At Central Bucks West High School Post led her team to back-to-back Pennsylvania State Championships and three League Championships. Post was twice a First Team All-Area and All-League selection and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.
Kasey Davenport made one save for Mason (0-1), as Mason out-shot Rider 11-4. “Clearly today we were able to put away the few opportunities we had,” Long said, “something we had trouble doing in the past.”
This was the first-ever meeting in women's soccer between Rider and George Mason, the alma mater of Long. “I always wish nothing but the best for George Mason,” Long said, “they are a good squad that is well coach, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a small piece of me that really wanted to do well against my former school.”
The Broncs have run their unbeaten streak to four games. Rider was 2-0-1 over the final three games of the 2006 season.
Rider plays host Hartford Sunday afternoon.
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