Men's College Soccer
Siena College 2, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite compiling more shots, the Broncs lost to Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Friday.
Siena (5-5-1, 3-0 MAAC) has now won four games in a row, while Rider (1-10-2, 0-3 MAAC) has lost its last five games. “It was another episode of how we've played the last five or six games,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager.
Siena scored with 10 minutes left in the first half and took a 2-0 lead eight minutes into the second half.
Rider out-shot Siena 17-14. “When you out-shoot a team, which we have done a few times recently, and you lose, it tells you either the quality of shots isn't there or the shots you are getting really aren't substantial shots,” Fager said. “I thought we had some quality shots today.”
Junior Nico Tramontana (Vineland, N.J./Sacred Heart) had six of Rider's 17 shots, including a penalty kick that was saved by Saint goalkeeper Steve Skonieczny. Skonieczny made six saves for the shutout. “We had a chance late in the game with the PK to get ourselves back into it and we didn't convert,” Fager said. “If we make it I think it is a whole different game. I think that would have given us more energy, more fight, but right now we are struggling to get goals.”
Rider has scored one goal in its last five games.
Rider freshman Chirs Pimentel (Brick/Brick Memorial) made five saves in his first start for the Broncs. “I think we have three solid keepers, we're just not generating enough offense to keep the pressure off of them,” Fager said. “We made a change to see if it might make things better for us.”
Rider lost to Siena 6-2 in the first round of the MAAC Championship tournament last year, after losing 1-0 at Siena during the regular season.
Rider and Siena have now met 14 times, with Siena holding a 6-5-3 advantage in the series that began in 1997.
Rider hosts Marist in a MAAC contest Sunday at 2pm. “we're going to have our hands full,” Fager said.
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