College Field Hockey - Vonnie Gros Classic
Rider University 3, Appalachian State 2
WEST CHESTER, Pa.?Some days you play well enough to win and come up short. The game Sunday wasn't one of them as the Rider University field hockey team broke a three game losing streak, defeating Appalachian State 3-2 in the Vonnie Gros Field Hockey Classic at West Chester University.
The Broncs got to ?Celebre' good times as senior Diana Celebre (Lake Grove, N.Y./Sachem) scored twice with fellow senior Tricia Crotty (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) adding the eventual game-winner as the Broncs defeated the Mountaineers for the third straight time.
Rider (1-3) defeated Appalachian State (0-6) 4-3 in overtime last season.
“We played a different system today that gave us more opportunities on the offensive end,” said head coach Lori Hussong. “It helped that we were able to keep the ball in Appalachian State's circle and keep pressure on their goalie.”
Celebre scored her first goal of the season off a pass from freshman Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain/Extracto del Expediente Academy de) 15 minutes into the game, giving Rider its first lead in four games this season.
Five minutes after the Mountaineers tied the game at one, Celebre hit the back of the cage for her second tally of the day, the eighth goal of her career off an assist from senior Mandy Hunter (Plainsboro/W. Windsor Plainsboro-North) seven minutes before half time and Rider led 2-1 at intermission.
“Diana came off the bench and gave us the spark that we needed,” Hussong said. “She scored two beautiful goals. We were looking for someone to step up and spark us and she did that today.”
“We just played really great today offensively,” Celebre said. “On both plays, I got two great passes and just put them in. Today we worked together more than last game. Everyone did their part and played their position well and because of that we did well as a team.”
Crotty completed the Bronc scoring with an unassisted goal off a rebound, her second of the season and 34th of her career, with 30 minutes left in the game.
Appalachian State scored on a penalty shot with eight minutes remaining for the final score.
Junior Lyndsie Johnson (Gibbsboro/Eastern) made seven saves, all in the second half as the Broncs out-shot the Mountaineers 15-13.
Appalachian State held a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners.
The Broncs return to West Chester, this time facing the Rams on September 17 at 6:00pm and Rider's home opener is Friday, September 26 at 4:00pm against Radford.
“We're going to take things one game at a time,” said Hussong. “We got the first ?W' of the season under our belt and we are looking to build off this when we come back up here on Wednesday. We played well enough to win the first two games of the season and came up unlucky. We really played better in the first two games than we did today but today we got the win and that's the important part.”
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