SMITHFIELD, R.I.?The Rider University field hockey team won its third game in a row, defeating Bryant University on Sunday afternoon in the final non-conference game of the 2008 regular season. “We got it done today,” said head coach Lori Hussong. “The kids came through in the clutch because Bryant was pounding the ball the entire second half.”
Sophomore Amanda Barretta (Roseland/West Essex) got Rider (6-5) on the board eight minutes into the game, scoring an unassisted goal off a rebound. Barretta has scored goals in three straight games for the Broncs.
“It was a good game but we could have hustled more,” said Barretta. “We had a lot of opportunities to score more goals. On my goal, the goalie blocked a pass from Allison Vogel (sophomore) (Oceanport/Shore Regional) and I stopped the ball and shot it right into the corner. I'm going into each game confident that I am going to score and I'm working to just put the ball into the cage.”
Sophomore Margaret Ecke (New Egypt) took a rebound from freshman Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) and hit the back of the cage for her first goal of the season at the 19 minute mark of the first half, giving the Broncs a two-goal lead.
“I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time," Ecke said. "We drew a corner and all rushed the cage at the same time and I was able to put the ball past the goalie. It was a combined effort from everyone, being aggressive toward the goal.”
Bryant (1-10) scored two minutes into the second half for the final score.
Junior goalie Lyndsie Johnson (Gibbsboro/Eastern) made two saves as the Broncs out-shot the Bulldogs 19-12.
“Lyndsie came through for us once again,” said Hussong. “She did a great job and she is gaining confidence. Any goals that the other team scores are going to be well earned.”
“We had to work together as a unit and communicate today,” said Johnson who notched her sixth win of the season. “We had to stay tough because Bryant was penetrating the circle a lot in the second half. We stayed together and worked hard to get the victory.”
Rider held a 20-12 penalty corner advantage including 11-5 in the second half.
“We had chances to score six or seven more goals,” Hussong said. “We had the opportunities and just missed them. Everything was a little wide or just missed. To Bryant's credit, the second half, they fought back and gave us the run of our lives.”
This was Rider's first meeting with Bryant which will join the Northeast Conference in the Fall of 2012. Bryant is currently in the five-year cycle to re-classify from D-II to NCAA Division I status.
The last three Rider games have been decided by 2-1 scores, an overtime win at Georgetown, a win in penalty strokes over La Salle and today's regulation win.
“You definitely stay sharp in the one-goal games,” Johnson added. “You can't have any type of lull because if they score, you are tied and then if no one scores, overtime is do or die. So it definitely keeps you focused and on your toes.”
“I'm glad we were able to hang on but I wasn't happy about our play in the second half,” Hussong added. “We did not play our style of play, the passing was a little off and we weren't connecting as a team. We needed to have better second efforts.”
This is Rider's second three-game winning streak of the season and the Broncs improved to 5-4 in one-goal games this season.
“This was a big game for us,” Ecke added. “It wasn't necessarily our best win but it still helps our confidence as we head into conference play.”
The Broncs open NEC play, hosting Sacred Heart on October 10 at 4:00pm. Rider defeated the Pioneers twice last season by 3-1 scores including an NEC semi-final playoff win.
“We open up with a tough conference weekend,” said Hussong about having to face Sacred Heart before traveling to Quinnipiac a week from today (October 12). “We are going to work this week in practice to get things back to the level we need them to be at.”
