Men's College Soccer
Canisius College 3, Rider University 0
BUFFALO, NY?The Broncs lost at Canisius in the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game of the season. “We are absolutely snake-bitten when it comes to scoring goals,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager.
Rider (1-8-2, 0-1 MAAC) out shot Canisius 14-11, but Canisius had eight shots on goal to Rider's four. Sophomore Jim Bradley (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington Township) had four of Rider's 14 shots.
“I think Jim Bradley played a very inspiring game,” Fager said. “He worked his behind off for 90 minutes, never coming off the field despite a bunch of nicks and bumps he is dealing with.”
Canisius (5-6-1, 1-0 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute on a free kick by Victor Gonzalez, went up 2-0 in the 28th minute off of corner kick and took a 3-0 lead when Gonzalez scored his fourth goal of the season.
“Gonzalez hit two direct kicks that were absolutely perfectly placed,” Fager said. “On the corner kick the ball must have bounced in the box four or five times and no one got to it until it was too late.”
The Golden Griffins led 3-0 at the half. “We were a bit upset with ourselves at half time because we had the information as to what we could not allow them to do and we allowed them to do it,” Fager said.
“In the second half I don't think they (Canisius) got across midfield six times and we had five or six quality chances to score,” Fager said. “They got a couple of shots off near the end because we were pushing everyone up front.”
Rider senior goalkeeper Randall Zapolski (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) made five saves.
Rider and Canisius have now met 13 times with Rider holding an 8-5 advantage in the series that began in 1990. Rider defeated Canisius 3-1 last season in Lawrenceville.
Canisius placed fourth in the MAAC regular season last year. “We fought to the very end,” Fager said. “I think we played with a lot of heart.”
Rider stays in Western New York to take on Niagara in a MAAC game Sunday afternoon. “They might be better than Canisius,” Fager said. “We'll see on Sunday. It is a matter of who comes out to play.”
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