Women's College Soccer
Canisius College 3, Rider University 1
BUFFALO, NY-The Broncs lost the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game of the season at Canisius Friday evening. "They are a better team than us," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "We did okay. Most people played well, they worked hard and gave everything they could."
Rider junior Lauren Musumeci (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) scored on a free kick from 35 yards out to cut the lead to 2-1 with 24 minutes left in the second half. "Moose played well," Hounsome said. "She scored a nice goal off of a free kick."
The goal was her sixth of the season and the 12th of her career. Musumeci, who had three of Rider's six shots, now ranks fourth in career goals at Rider and fifth in career points (32).
Canisius (7-0-1, 1-0 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead 18:30 into the game on its seventh shot of the game and scored again on its ninth shot a minute later.
The Golden Griffins, who finished fourth in the MAAC standings last year, scored to make it 3-1 in the final minute of play. "With ten minutes to go we pushed everyone up front, trying to tie the game, and that left us vulnerable for their final goal," Hounsome said.
Canisius out-shot Rider 24-6, 13-3 in the first half. Canisius had 10 shots before Rider had its first. "There was a strong wind and they had it in their favor in the first half," Hounsome said.
Rider junior goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made eight saves. "She gave up three goals but she made some nice saves as well," Hounsome said.
Canisius had nine corners to Rider's two. "They were better than us, that is the bottom line," Hounsome said.
Rider (4-5-1, 0-1 MAAC) lost 4-1 to Canisius in Lawrenceville last year. In the previous 12 meetings between Rider and Canisius the Broncs won six, including 2006, and lost five (2007, 2008) with one tie.
Rider stays in Western New York to play Niagara in a MAAC contest Sunday afternoon. "It's a new game, hopefully we can get a win," Hounsome said.
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