Women's College Soccer
University of Vermont 5, Rider University 2
EWING?The Broncs lost to Vermont in a game played at The College of New Jersey Saturday. “It's a team sport but if everyone doesn't perform to the best of their ability we're going to give up goals,” said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome, “and that pretty much is what happened today.”
Rider (1-6-2) took a 1-0 lead just 2:36 into the game when sophomore Lauren Musumeci (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) hit a perfect direct kick into the box, where sophomore Kara Perkoski (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) ran it down and put it into the net.
“We practice free kicks every day,” said Musumeci, who had two assists Saturday. “I'm looking to play it between the six and the penalty mark and that is exactly where it went. Kara was perfectly placed right there and she made an excellent shot into the corner of the net.”
“I thought the forwards played well,” Hounsome said. “Kara and Kayla (senior Kayla Devlin of Clifton) caused them a lot of problems the entire game.”
“I was excited because usually we're good with the lead,” Musumeci said.
Vermont (2-8) answered back with three straight goals, two by Emily Perrin, to take a 3-1 lead at the half.
“After their first goal the momentum seemed to shift and we didn't get it back again,” Musumeci said.
On a corner kick, Musumeci again hit a perfect ball into the box, to junior Stacy Belgiovene (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) who one-touched it into the net to cut the lead to 3-2.
“We practice corners all of the time too so it was nice to get a goal off of one,” Musumeci said. “Stacy judged it perfectly and made a nice volley into the back of the net.”
“Moose put some great balls into the box today,” Hounsome said.
The Catamounts came right back and scored a minute later and ended the scoring with a fifth goal with less than 10 minutes remaining.
“We had some great performances and we had some people who didn't perform,” Hounsome said. “We have to correct that.”
Vermont out-shot Rider 25-23. “It was disappointing in that we got 23 shots and scored two goals, which are highs for the season, but we gave up five goals,” Hounsome said. “We scored two and hit the cross bar twice. It was what was happening at the other end of the field that was breaking us down.”
Rider sophomore goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made seven saves. Post entered the game ranked 13th in the nation in saves per game.
The game was played on the TCNJ artificial turf due to wet field conditions on Rider's grass field. “It would have been nice to be at home,” Hounsome said, “but the field certainly is not an excuse for allowing five goals.”
Rider is scheduled to play men's and women's soccer and field hockey on its own turf field in 2009. “Playing on the turf is different, but I'm looking forward to paying on it next year,” Musumeci said.
Rider begins conference play Friday, October 3, hosting the top team in the MAAC, Fairfield. “We have a lot of work to do,” Hounsome said. “We face the top team in the conference. How we respond to this will be key.”
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