Men's College Soccer
Rider University 2, Robert Morris University 1
MOON TOWNSHIP, PA?The Broncs won the 2008 season opener, defeating host Robert Morris in the first round of the RMU Invitational Presented by America's Best Value Inn, Hometown Pizza, Tyler Mountain Water and 11ManGang Equipment. “We're ecstatic,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager, “this is phenomenal. The guys did a great job against a team that has some quality players.”
Junior Nico Tramontana (Vineland, N.J./Sacred Heart), Rider's leading scorer last year, scored an unassisted goal off of a direct kick from 25 yards out just seven minutes into the game to give Rider (1-0) a 1-0 lead. “Nico nailed a big-time direct kick into the left-hand corner of the net,” Fager said.
RMU (0-1) came right back and scored just two minutes later on a header to tie the score at 1-1. “We were kind of unorganized at that point and they scored a preventable goal,” Fager said.
With just 4:25 remaining in the second half sophomore Andrew Cotes (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) took a pass from freshman Jonathan Burd (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) and scored the game-winner. “With about six minutes left we put Burd on the field and he made a run forward, got the ball behind the defenders and played the ball up to Cotes,” Fager said. “Cotes struck the ball off the far post and that's the game.”
“It was a give and go between Burd and Bradley (sophomore Jim Bradley (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington Township),” Cotes said of his game-winner. “Burd drew the ?keeper out and played it back to me and I just put it away, far post.”
The goal was Burd's second as a Bronc. He scored last year as a rookie in a win over NJIT. “This goal was 10 times better than that one, being a game-winner,” Burd said. “This is the best feeling ever, especially since it came with less than five minutes to go.”
In five years playing in the Northeast Conference Rider was 0-5 against Robert Morris.
The Broncs are now 1-7-2 in last 10 season openers. The last time Rider won an opener was in 1998, the year Rider went on to win the MAAC championship and the NCAA Play-In game to advance to its second consecutive NCAA tournament. “We're on the right page then,” Fager said.
RMU out-shot Rider 21-10. “After they tied the score the game was pretty much even but they probably had the better chances to score,” Fager said. “We had a few quality ones where we just shot over the net or just wide.” Just six of RMU's shots were on goal, while six of Rider's 10 shots were on goal.
Rider senior goalkeeper Randall Zapolski (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) made four saves, as did RMU goalie Matt Felice. “Randy had a very strong game back in goal,” Fager said.
RMU had five corner kicks, while the Broncs had none.
Rider plays the University of Pittsburgh Sunday at 12 noon in the second round of the RMU Invitational.
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