Women's College Soccer
Niagara University 2, Rider University 1
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY-The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Niagara Sunday afternoon.
The Purple Eagles out-shot Rider 16-5, including 8-0 in the first half. "The second half was a lot better than the first," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "We pretty much spent most of the first half chasing the ball. At half time we were able to correct that."
After going 4-2-1 over a seven game stretch, the Broncs have lost their last two.
Rider (4-6-1, 0-2 MAAC) cut the Niagara lead to 2-1 with 11 minutes left in the game when freshman Claire Thompson (East Greenwich, R.I./E. Greenwich) picked up a loose ball in the box and scored her second collegiate goal.
"Claire came in off the bench and did well," Hounsome said. "She played well in the midfield and got her second goal of the season. Moose (junior Lauren Musumeci of Annandale/North Hunterdon) had a great through ball to get (freshman) Kaitlin Wylie (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) running through. Wylie took it to the line and with her left foot crossed it in and Claire was able to get there and score with a nice finish."
Niagara (5-5-1, 1-1 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead 16 minutes into the game and made it 2-0 on a header goal with 27 minutes left in the second half.
Niagara had nine corner kicks to Rider's one.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Jenn Nichols (Stratham, N.H./Exeter) had five saves in her first collegiate loss (1-1-1). "Jenn had another good game in goal," Hounsome said., "She did what she needed to do. She took care of everything."
Nichols now has 20 saves on the season while allowing six goals in eight games.
Ashleigh Bowers made three saves for Niagara.
Musumeci, senior Natalie Sica (Marlton, N.J./Holy Cross), Wylie and senior Kate Murphy (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) had shots for Rider.
"Moose (Musumeci) had another good game for us," Hounsome said. "She is really having a good season." Musumeci leads Rider with five goals, 11 points and 26 of Rider's 95 shots.
Rider lost 3-0 to Niagara in Lawrenceville last year. In the 13 meetings between Rider and Niagara the Broncs have won four, including 2004, and lost nine, including the last five.
Rider travels to Baltimore October 3 to take on perennial MAAC power Loyola. Rider tied Loyola last year in Lawrenceville and Loyola went on to finish in first place in the MAAC. Rider has never defeated Loyola (0-15-1).
"We're certainly not frightened," Hounsome said. "We just need to perform as a team and not make the mistakes we have been making, It should be a good game."
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