Men's College Soccer
Loyola College 5, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE?The Rider soccer season came to an end Saturday with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss to sixth ranked Loyola.
Loyola (17-0-1, 9-0-0 MAAC) out-shot Rider (2-15-2, 1-8 MAAC) 16-3, including 14-0 in the first half. “The second half the guys came out and played a little bit better,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager. “We were able to solve some of the problems the Loyola forwards were causing us in the first half.”
Sophomore Jim Bradley (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington Township) had all three of Rider's shots. “We actually had a couple of chances in the second half,” Fager said. “Bradley had some chances and really gave us a good effort today.”
Rider senior goalkeeper Randall Zapolski (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) made five saves in his final collegiate game.
The game brought an end to a season where Rider never had a single game where the Broncs played at full strength. “Not only have I never had a season like this,” said Fager, now in his 34th season at Rider, “but I don't think anyone has ever had a season like this. I hope it never happens again. I can't explain how frustrating it is to look at your team before the game and say ?we're not going to have him for this game, or those four for that game.' It has been very difficult to do. I think the guys were resilient in dealing with it. and played some very good games despite it. The good news is that a lot of freshmen got a lot of playing time.”
Rider and Loyola have now met 24 times with the Greyhounds holding a 17-6-1 advantage in the series that began in 1946. The last time Rider defeated Loyola was 2004. The defending MAAC Champion, Loyola won 3-0 over Rider in Baltimore last season.
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