College Field Hockey
Rider University 5, Saint Francis-Pa. 0
Northeast Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE?The hunt for a Red (or Cranberry) October began against the Red Flash of Saint Francis on Friday. The Rider University field hockey team won its sixth game in a row, defeating Saint Francis-Pa., 5-0 in a Northeast Conference game.
“Obviously by the score it went pretty well for us,” said head coach Lori Hussong. “With that said, there are still things we need to work on that were very visible in the game. For the most part, we played a nice, solid game.”
For the Broncs, senior Diana Celebre (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem North) scored her first career hat trick with freshman Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) adding a goal and an assist to pace the offense.
“Every game we are getting better play team wise,” Hussong added. “With the new line up, the more they play together, the better they are going to gel.”
Egusquiza scored an unassisted goal, her four goal of the season just 1:37 into the game off a rebound and the Broncs had an early 1-0 lead.
“Their goalie was outstanding and kept them in the game for the better part of the first half,” Hussong said. “Getting an early lead was very important and scoring two rapid fire goals just before the half were just as important.”
Celebre deflected a five-yard shot in front of the cage from sophomore Allison Vogel (Oceanport/Shore Regional) with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half to give Rider a two-goal lead.
Sophomore Amanda Barretta (Roseland/West Essex) then deflected an Egusquiza shot for her fourth goal of the season 1:07 later to give Rider a three-goal lead at the half.
“We are seeing each other a lot better down in the circle,” said Celebre who leads the team with nine goals. “I was able to put myself in good position in front of the cage to rebound a lot of shots today.”
Junior goalie Lyndsie Johnson (Gibbsboro/Eastern) made one save for her second shutout in a row as Rider (9-5, 3-0 NEC) out-shot the Red Flash 25-2.
“Our defense is very stingy right now,” Hussong said. “In order to vie for a championship, you need strength in the back and the saying is true that defense wins championships. Kelly Krist (Belford/Middletown North), sophomore Margaret Ecke (New Egypt) and senior Julie Vaccarelli (Oceanport/Shore Regional) have been solid and have taken the pressure off. Sophomore Kristy Kelly (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) has also been outstanding.”
“Lyndsie has improved every game,” said Celebre about her goalie recording her second shutout of the season. “She is aggressive and vocal. The defense is also really playing well around her.”
Johnson lowered her goals against average to 1.31 and entered the week fourth in the nation in save percentage, 17th in goals against average and 24th in saves per game. After giving up a goal 10 minutes in against Sacred Heart three games ago, Johnson hasn't allowed a goal in the last 199:52.
“Di (Celebre) has great stick skills,” said Johnson. “She has the confidence to get it and go and doesn't mess around with the ball. She pushes the ball up the field and is that little link in the offense to give us what we need.”
Senior Tricia Crotty (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) notched her fifth assist of the season after Celebre scored on the rebound of Crotty's breakaway with 22 minutes remaining and Celebre completed the hat trick four minutes later off a give and go pass from Vogel for the final score.
Vogel now has three assists on the season.
“The defense really worked hard and communicated,” said Johnson. “The defenders did a great job forcing players wide so that I wasn't screened. They took charge of every play. Scoring early was also very important. It boosted our ego and got everyone going. Overall we worked very well as a team, both defensively and offensively.”
Rider held a 12-1 penalty corner advantage and improved to a perfect 10-0 all-time against Saint Francis (Pa.). Last season, the Broncs defeated the Red Flash 1-0 in Lawrenceville.
The Broncs host Robert Morris on Sunday in an NEC game. Prior to the game, Rider will honor its six graduating seniors.
“We are just taking one game at a time,” said Hussong. “Robert Morris is a very dangerous team and on any given day, you can get knocked off. We are just looking to do the best job we can.”
“With only seven conference games, you almost have to win every game to make the playoffs,” Celebre said. Right now we are just taking things one game at a time and having a lot of fun on the field. Robert Morris is a strong team and we have to come out as aggressive as we did today.”
“The seniors are the rock of the team,” Johnson said about the upcoming senior day. “They are the foundation on the field and off the field and keep the team as a family. It is going to be really hard to see them go.”
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