Women's College Soccer
Drexel University 1, Rider University 0
PHILADELPHIA, PA?Despite a much improved performance over the season-opening tie, the Broncs lost at Drexel Friday night. “We were a significantly better team tonight than we were in the opening tie against Lafayette,” said first-year head coach Drayson Hounsome. “We played a lot better and corrected the mistakes we made in the first game. We played a very good game.”
The host Dragons (2-0-0) scored in the 73rd minute of play. “It was a very lucky goal,” Hounsome said. “Our defender went to clear it, it went off her head, off the post, to their player and it went in. But Drexel is a lot better than they've been in the past. They are going to surprise some teams this year.”
Drexel out-shot Rider (0-1-1) 16-5, including 12-3 in the second half. “It was very much a mid-field battle,” Hounsome said. “In the second half they had a bit more momentum but they still couldn't break us down. Our players really worked hard. If we continue to improve the way we did from the first game to the second, by the time the conference games come along we'll be a very tough team.”
Rider sophomore Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made seven saves. “Alex was great in goal,” Hounsome said. “She was confident and made good decisions.”
Drexel goalkeeper Kaitlin Bond needed to make just one save for the shutout, the 16th of her career.
“We had a great opportunity off of a set piece where we played a dangerous ball in and had a shot from eight yards out that just went over the top,” Hounsome said. “That was right before they scored.”
Rider and Drexel tied 0-0 last season. The two teams have now met nine times since the series began in 1997 with Rider holding a 4-3-2 lead in the series. Drexel defeated Rider in 2002 and Rider won in 2001.
“I was happy with the way we played against Lafayette, and I'm 10 times happier today,” Hounsome said. “(senior) Erin Mahar (Barnegat, N.J./Colonia) was awesome tonight at right back and (sophomore) Kimberly Reichel (Chester, N.J./West Morris-Mendham) was unbelievable at mid-field. Her work rate was great and she was winning a lot of balls. There were a lot of good performances.”
Rider hosts Monmouth University Sunday at 1pm.
-RU-
