College Field Hockey
Rider University 2, Sacred Heart University 0
Northeast Conference Semifinals
LOCK HAVEN, Pa.—The Rider University field hockey team advanced to the Northeast Conference championship game by defeating Sacred Heart in the semifinals on Friday afternoon. “It was a back and forth game,” said head coach Lori Hussong. “Anyone could have won going into the last 12 minutes of the game.”
Senior Tricia Crotty (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) broke a scoreless tie with 12 minutes remaining in the game, scoring her 10th goal of the season off a right side crossing pass from sophomore Amanda Barretta (Roseland/West Essex). Crotty now has 101 career points (42 goals, 17 assists), tying Courtney Bertos '05 for fifth highest all-time at Rider.
“Amanda gave me a nice ball across and I was there to hit it in,” Crotty remembered. “The game was a team effort by everyone. Both teams had some great opportunities.”
“We had some early chances but didn't capitalize,” Lori Hussong added. “The longer that Sacred Heart stayed in the game, the more confidence they gained. To our credit, we stepped up and got the job done. Amanda setup the play beautifully and Tricia was there to put the ball in the cage. Once we got the lead, we were able to play our style to finish out the win.”
Junior goalie Lyndsie Johnson (Gibbsboro/Eastern) made two saves to record her sixth shutout in the last seven games. Despite ranking third in the nation in save percentage and 10th nationally in goals against average, Johnson did not receive All-NEC honors.
“Lyndsie is putting up All-America numbers, not only All-NEC,” said assistant coach Dan Hussong who works primarily with the goalies. “Lyndsie comes to practice each day and works hard and wants to become a better goalie. Her spectacular play is a product of her hard work.”
Johnson picked up her 13th win of the season, lowering her goals against average to 1.02.
“We didn't mesh at the beginning of the game but as we played, we gained more confidence,” Johnson said. “The defense in front of me was outstanding. Sacred Heart came out tough and aggressive but I knew if I had to make a save, the defense would be right there to clear it out and push the ball up the field. Not making All-NEC is a bit of a sore spot but I'm worried about how we do as a team. My vindication is another shutout in the conference semifinals and another championship game appearance. The other coaches and the league can't take that away from me or my teammates. We only worry about the things we can control.”
Rider out-shot the Pioneers 12-11.
“Lyndsie was outstanding again,” Lori Hussong said. “She has played that way all season and today was no different. She was on and Sacred Heart had a lot of dangerous chances that Lyndsie was able to get a piece of.”
“We couldn't ask for a better performance from Lyndsie,” Crotty said. “Every game she gets better and better.”
Freshman Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain), the NEC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC honoree, scored an insurance goal for Rider (13-6) on a penalty stroke with six minutes remaining for the final score.
Rider defeated Sacred Heart 3-1 on October 10 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and the Broncs have won 14 of the 20 games all-time against the Pioneers. This is the second season in a row that Rider has defeated Sacred Heart in the NEC semifinals.
“We were tentative early,” Lori Hussong said. “We got some huge plays by the defense, especially from senior Julie Vaccarelli (Oceanport/Shore Regional) and sophomore Margaret Ecke (New Egypt) that played a huge part in the win.”
“We didn't start playing our style of play,” Vaccarelli said. “We were able to hold Sacred Heart scoreless and got great goaltending from Lyndsie. We were a little tense but we worked together and got the job done.”
The Broncs will face the NEC regular season champion and top seed Lock Haven in the finals. The Lady Eagles defeated Quinnipiac 4-1 in the second semifinal on Friday.
The championship game is Saturday at 1:00pm, also at Lock Haven.
This marks the eighth time in the past nine seasons that Rider has advanced to the NEC Finals. Rider won the 2000, 2002 and 2004 conference postseason tournament and won the NEC regular season title in 2001, 2003 and 2005. Last season, Rider lost in the finals to Lock Haven and the Lady Eagles knocked Rider out in the semifinals in 2006.
“It is an honor to be in the finals again,” Vaccarelli said. “It is a testament to our hard work and I'm very excited and proud to be part of this team. It has been a special year.”
“We worked hard all season to get back to the championship game,” Lori Hussong added. “It was one of our goals and hopefully we'll bring home another championship to Rider.”
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