College Field Hockey
Rider University 3, Monmouth University 1
Northeast Conference Game
WEST LONG BRANCH--When you have two schools separated by only 60 miles you knew it would be a battle. Couple that with two teams that entered play undefeated in the conference and it was a game not to be missed. The Rider University field hockey team remained one of three undefeated teams in NCAA Division I with a hard fought 3-1 win at Monmouth's 'So Sweet a Cat' Field on Friday in a Northeast Conference game.
"We are off to a great start," said head coach Lori Hussong. "The game was harder than the score indicated. Monmouth is tough. Anytime we step on the field with them, it is a battle. They pass the ball well and we stepped up to the challenge."
Sophomore Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) hit a high flick into the top corner of the cage 21 minutes into the game off an assist from freshman Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) to give Rider (11-0, 2-0 NEC) a 1-0 lead. Egusquiza, the NEC Rookie of the Year last season, now has seven goals this year. Schneider, a two-time NEC Rookie of the Week honoree, is tied for second on the team with three assists.
"This was a tough, physical game," Egusquiza said. "It was important for us to score first and not give Monmouth any momentum. They are a hard team to play against."
"Virginia performance today was unbelievable," said Hussong. "We rely on her and as you can see, she is a very unselfish player."
"It is important to continue to score first," Egusquiza said of the Broncs who have not trailed in any game this season, "It gives us the momentum and keeps the other team down."
Sophomore Natasha Tukeva (Easton, Pa./Freedom) scored her first goal of the season, six minutes into the second half off a pass from sophomore Megan Pisani (Plainsboro/West Windsor-Plainsboro North) to give the Broncs a short lived two-goal lead. Pisani leads the NEC with 31 points this season.
"Natasha has been so close to scoring all season," Hussong said. "She has been close numerous times and we are all very happy for her. We put her in to give us a spark and she will spill her guts for the team. Her energy is great and her 'blue collar' play is what we needed in a game like this."
"Megan did all the work," Tukeva said. "I was in the right position and was able to put it in the cage. Monmouth always puts up a tough fight. Everyone stepped up for us when we needed them to. This is a good win for us."
Playing up a player due to a five minute yellow card penalty, Monmouth (6-7, 2-1 NEC) scored four minutes after the Tukeva goal to get the Hawks to within one.
With Monmouth taking the momentum, senior Erin McGinniss (Newton/Kittatinny Regional) reminded Rider fans why she is nicknamed 'money', scoring a clutch goal, her first of the season, off a pass in the middle from Egusquiza to give the Broncs a two-goal lead with eight minutes remaining for the final score.
"Coach told us to stay calm in a timeout right after their goal," McGinniss said. "I wasn't being marked in the circle and Marlaine (Schneider) hustled back to win the ball and crossed it to Virginia who hit it into me."
"We always say three goals will win you the game," Hussong added. "Erin's goal was huge. When we got the third goal, we were able to go back to playing our game. When we received the card, we started to sit back and watch and that hurt us. Give Monmouth credit for taking it to us."
Rider held a 7-4 penalty corner advantage with the Hawks out-cornering the Broncs 4-3 in the second half.
Senior goalie Lyndsie Johnson (Gibbsboro/Eastern) made one save to pick up her 11th win of the season as Rider out-shot Monmouth 23-3.
The Broncs tied the Rider record for consecutive wins, set by the 2003 team that went 14-5 and finished as conference runner-up.
This marks Rider's best ever start to a field hockey season, besting the 11-1 start by the 2004 squad. The 2004 team advanced to the NCAA Play-In game as NEC Champions and finished with an 18-3 record. Several of the 2004 alums were in attendance at the game and congratulated the team afterwards.
The Broncs have won 17 of the 26 games (three ties) all-time against their in-state rivals from West Long Branch including the last nine in a row.
Rider defeated Monmouth 2-0 in 2008 in Lawrenceville, 3-2 in overtime in 2007 in West Long Branch and 4-0 at Rider in 2006. Monmouth's last win over the Broncs was September 18, 2002 by a 3-2 score in West Long Branch.
The Broncs host Quinnipiac in an NEC game at noon on Sunday. "We are taking things one game at a time," Tukeva said. "We'll be back at practice tomorrow to work on the things that we didn't do well today so that we are prepared for Sunday."
"We are excited to be at home on Sunday," McGinniss added. "Our fans have really supported us and we are excited to be back out there. We are looking forward to it."
"We are going to work on Saturday to readjust to the grass field and get ready for Sunday," Hussong said. "Quinnipiac is another dangerous team and we are focused on taking things one game at a time."
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