Men's College Soccer
Siena College 4, Rider University 3
LOUDONVILLE, NY—Despite two goals from junior Jim Bradley (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington Township) the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Siena Friday. “Our guys did a great job in the second half,” said Rider head coach Russ Fager. “We just made too many mistakes early on."
Rider (4-8, 1-3 MAAC) came back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game at 2-2, and fought back to tie the score again at 3-3 before losing to the Saints (8-5-2, 3-1-1 MAAC). “We had two big comebacks,” Fager said, “but they were not big enough.”
Bradley scored 10 minutes into the second half on a long strike to get Rider on the board off an assist by sophomore Sal Lubrano (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central). “We got a quality goal from Bradley on a great strike,” Fager said. “He had a phenomenal game. He played out of his mind. He's a Phillies fan so maybe them being in the World Series had something to do with his play.”
Senior Nico Tramontana (Vineland, N.J./Sacred Heart) scored on a penalty kick to tie the score at 2-2 just three minutes later. “Nico finished the PK very well,” Fager said.
Trailing 3-2, Tramontana dribbled through and passed to Bradley who scored with 19 minutes left to tie the score at 3-3.
Siena scored the game-winner with 14 minutes left to play.
There were 41 fouls called in the contest. “We played a tough game today,” Fager said. “It was a physical game. They have some big boys, some quality players.
Both teams had 12 shots and five shots on goal. Tramontana had five of Rider's shots. “Nico had a few shots and a quality assist today,” Fager said.
Rider lost 2-0 to Siena last year. These two teams have now met 15 times since the series began in 1997 with Rider winning five and there have been three ties. The last time Rider defeated Siena was 2004.
Rider plays a MAAC game at Marist Sunday at 2pm. “We knocked the ball around today,” Fager said. “We did some good things. If we can keep playing at the same level we were at today we're going to be okay.”
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