Women's College Soccer
Rider University 0, Drexel University 0 (2ot)
LAWRENCEVILLE?The Broncs remained undefeated for 2007 with a tie against Drexel in the home opener Friday. “It was exciting to play at home,” said Rider freshman goalkeeper Alex Post, who collected the shutout. “I had a lot of family and friends here today.”
Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made three saves in the Rider nets for her second shutout in five games. “Alex made another strong showing,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long, “with Drexel playing as many dangerous balls behind her back as often as they did. Five games in she is not playing like the freshman she is. We're very proud of her. She should be very happy with her play.”
Of her five games, three have gone overtime, adding on an additional 60 minutes of action for the rookie.
“I'm learning new things every day,” Post said. “The game is played at a much faster pace, but I feel very confident with my teammates, with my defense.”
Rider (2-0-3) out-shot Drexel (1-2-1) 13-10. Both teams had two shots in the second overtime. “It was a little disappointing that we didn't put one it,” Post said. “We had a few chances, but to come away without a loss is a good thing.”
“The good news is that we did not lose,” Long said. “In past seasons if we had a let down like this we would come away with a loss, so we'll certainly take it. Drexel is a good team and tying them is not an upsetting tie. However, when we set our sites on MAAC Championships, we want to do better than we did today. Our play today was a step down from the past two weekends. It didn't seem like we had the level of energy that we had in our previous four games.”
Rider won the adidas/Hartford tournament to begin the season 1-0-1, and went 1-0-1 again last weekend at the Navy Invitational.
“We were lucky to escape with a tie today playing the way we did against a good team,” Long said. “They had a lot of very good scoring changes.”
Three of Rider's 13 shots came off the foot of sophomore Alison Brody (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac), who was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week last week. “Ali Brody is just proving to be a strong player,” Long said. “She's been very good with the ball at her feet, and wherever we put her on the field she seems to make a difference.”
Kaitlin Bond made five saves in goal for Drexel.
Rider and Drexel tied 0-0 last year in Philadelphia. Rider has won four of the eight meetings (4-2-2), but the last time Rider beat the Dragons was 2001.
The Broncs are now undefeated in their last eight games, having ended the 2006 season 2-0-1.
Rider hosts Towson Sunday.
-RU-
