Men's College Soccer
Rider University 3, Manhattan College 1
RIVERDALE, NY-Despite playing without several injured players the Broncs defeated Manhattan in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Friday night. The victory snapped Rider's four-game losing streak.
"This was really a tremendous team effort," said Rider head coach Russ Fager. "With all of the injuries we have right now we had to move some people out of position and everybody pulled together and played well."
Rider took a 2-1 lead when senior Nico Tramontana (Vineland, N.J./Sacred Heart), who was moved from his forward position to the back, scored his team-high fifth goal of the season.
"I think Nico might have played that position once before, his sophomore year maybe," Fager said. "'With the injuries we have we had no choice and Nico did a great job back there."
Sophomore Sal Lubrano (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) hit a free kick from 25 yards out that Tramontana one-touched into the net just a minute after Manhattan scored to tie the game at 1-1.
"Sal had a great game," Fager said. "He had a couple of great serves on two of our goals."
Lubrano now shares the team lead with three assists.
Freshman Billy Voutsinas (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) scored in the 33rd minute of play off an assist from Lubrano to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead. Voutsinas hit the ball out of the air after a long volley from Lubrano from just over midfield.
"Sal served the ball from midfield and Billy took it right out of the air and put it in the back of the net," Fager said
Manhattan scored to tie the score at 1-1 in the 63rd minute.
Freshman Sam Kotowski (Cranbury, N.J./Princeton) scored his first collegiate goal to give Rider a 3-1 lead with 15 minutes left to play.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Matt Perrella (North Brunswick, N.J./N. Brunswick) made five saves to improve to 3-5. "Matt did a great job in goal," Fager said.
Rider (5-11, 2-6 MAAC) out-shot Manhattan (4-12, 2-6 MAAC) 21-14, including 11-6 in the second half.
Rider lost 3-2 to Manhattan last year. Rider and Manhattan have now met 14 times since the series began in 1997 with Rider winning seven and there have been four ties. Rider's last win over the Jaspers was in 2006.
The Broncs complete the 2009 season at Saint Peter's on Sunday. "We hope to have the injured players back for Sunday," Fager said.
The way the Broncs pulled together against Manhattan, it may not be necessary.
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