College Field Hockey
Rider University 3, Sacred Heart University 0
Northeast Conference Game
FAIRFIELD, Conn.--Sophomore Megan Pisani (Plainsboro/W. Windsor Plainsboro-North) scored twice, her team-leading 13th and 14th goals as the Rider University field hockey team won its 10th game in a row, defeating Sacred Heart in the Northeast Conference opener for both squads. "We spoke before the game that there is no room for error now that we are in conference play," said head coach Lori Hussong. "We are taking one game at a time and making sure we are prepared and ready to play."
Freshman Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) scored her fifth goal of the season, 23 minutes into the game off a penalty corner to give Rider (10-0, 1-0 NEC) a 1-0 lead. Schneider, the two-time defending NEC Rookie of the Week, was assisted by sophomore Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) and junior Margaret Ecke (New Egypt).
"Sacred Heart is a dangerous team," said Hussong. "They have the ability to pop the ball down the field at any time and they played with a number of players up the field, hanging around the 50-yard line and it took some time for us to adjust to that."
Rider dominated play in the first half, holding an 11-1 penalty corner advantage but led only 1-0 after the first 35 minutes.
"We came out with more intensity after halftime," Hussong said.
The Broncs continued their strong play in the second half with Pisani scoring off her own rebound in the 39th minute to give Rider a two-goal advantage.
"We started off kind of flat in the game," Pisani said. "Starting the second half, we needed to come out stronger and the offensive line did a good job to give me a chance to score twice."
Pisani, who played 69 of the 70 minutes, scored again with less than five minutes remaining in the game for the final score with Egusquiza notching her second assist. Egusquiza, the NEC Rookie of the Year last season, leads the Broncs with nine assists and had nine shots in the game.
Senior goalie Lyndsie Johnson (Gibbsboro/Eastern), the Rider Athlete of the Month for September, continued her hot play by winning her 10th of the season and sixth by shutout. Johnson entered the week fourth in the nation in goals against average and finished the game with a 0.48 g.a.a. SHU managed only two shots with Johnson not having to make a save.
"Defensively, we had outstanding games from Ecke and senior Erin McGinniss (Newton/Kittatinny Regional) Hussong said. "They were solid down the line, along with senior Kelly Crist (Belford/Middletown North) and junior Kristy Kelly (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) in the middle. We controlled SHU by taking chances at the right moment and intercepting the play to spark our attack."
For Sacred Heart (1-10, 0-1 NEC), goalie Kim Stow finished with 22 saves as Rider held a 35-2 shot and 24-1 penalty corner advantage.
"We need to take better advantage of our opportunities," Hussong said. "We had a number of chances but shot the ball right at the goalie. We need to put the ball into certain places at the cage and be ready to score more. We are getting chances but not good quality chances."
Last season, Rider defeated the Pioneers 3-1 in Lawrenceville and 2-0 in the NEC Semifinals at Lock Haven. The Broncs have won 15 of the 21 games all-time against Sacred Heart.
Through Sunday, the Broncs were one of only three undefeated teams in Division I including Maryland (12-0) and North Carolina (11-0) and Rider still has not trailed at any time this season.
Rider (1-0 NEC) travels to West Long Branch to face Monmouth (2-0 NEC) Friday at 4:00pm.
"All of the games we've played so far, have led us to conference play," Pisani said. "All that matters is how we play in the NEC and we can't let one game slip by. Every game, we have to work harder than we did the game before and show what our team is about."
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