Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, Hartford University 2 (2ot)
Rider Wins Tournament, Four Broncs All-Tournament Honors
WEST HARTFORD, Conn.--By going 1-0-1 over the weekend the Broncs were declared the champions of the adidas/Hartford Fall Classic, hosted by the University of Hartford. “This was an outstanding showing, to go undefeated in our first two games and to walk away as the tournament champion,” said Rider head coach Kevin Long. “We hadn't played in a tournament in a while, so this is very exciting. This is a wonderful way to start the season.”
The Broncs (1-0-1) also extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a tie at Hartford Sunday. “Hartford is a very good team and they had us on our heels for much of the second half,” Long said Rider was 2-0-1 over the final three games of the 2006 season.
Junior Amanda Scully (Bloomfield) tied the score at 1-1 with less than 10 minutes left in the first half off of a pass from junior Lauren Mahar (Barnegat, N.J./Colonia), and Scully scored again less than two minutes later to give the Broncs a 2-1 lead.
“Lauren made a really nice run down the left side of the field and crossed it in,” Scully remembered. “All I had to do was touch it in past the keeper. Lauren's run is what made it happen. On the second goal the ball bounced across the 18 (yard mark) to me and I had some space and I just hit it as hard as I could. It went in the upper 90 (top corner of net).”
Scully was named to the all-tournament team along with freshman Lauren Musumeci (Annandale/North Hunterdon), freshman goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) and senior Shana Herman (Cherry Hill East).
“Scully's first goal was on pure effort,” Long said. “She barely got to the spot and was able to get a toe on it. The second goal she just struck it from 20-25 yards out. She got all of it and the keeper seemed a bit surprised that the ball got there with such velocity.”
The goals were the fifth and sixth of Scully's career. “She is one of our stronger finishers,” Long said. “Today she had the opportunity to show everyone that she can score.”
Hartford (0-0-2) took a 1-0 lead 17 minutes into the game on a goal by Meagan Riemer, and tied the score at 2-2 with just four minutes left in the second half on a goal by Kacey Busque.
Post made six saves in the Rider net, while Elizabeth Cook made just one save for Hartford. “Alex played well,” Long said. “She's playing like an upperclassman right now, which is great. We really need her.”
Hartford out-shot Rider 15-6, including 10-1 after half time. “We held on at the end,” Long said. “They were coming at us pretty strong.”
Freshman Lauren Musumeci (Annandale/North Hunterdon) had the only shot after half time, coming in the second overtime period that almost won the game. “Moose (Musumeci) hit the side of the net after a great breakaway and just missed wide,” Long said.
The Broncs play at Navy Friday evening. “Hopefully this tournament sets the tone for the season,” Scully said. “We're really excited and it feels really good.”
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All-Tournament honorees from Rider
(l-r) Lauren Musumeci, Alex Post, Shana Herman, Amanda Scully
(l-r) Seniors Amy Vinarsky and Shana Herman
accept the tournament championship trophy for Rider.
