Men's College Soccer
Marist College 3, Rider University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Marist Friday night. "We felt the guys were too complacent in the first half," said Rider head coach Russ Fager. "We changed formations in the second half and the guys adapted to it well."
For Rider (2-12-1, 1-4-1 MAAC) junior Jonathan Burd (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick) scored his second goal of the season to cut the Marist lead to 2-1 10 minutes into the second half, but that was as close as the Broncs could get. "We got a goal back and thought we were going to make a run," Fager said.
Rider senior Andrew Cotes (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) collected his team-high fourth assist of the season. "I felt Cotes gave us a good game," Fager said. "Sal (junior Sal Lubrano of Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Burd in the middle gave us a good game."
Stephan Brossard scored is seventh and eighth goals of the season for Marist (8-7, 3-3 MAAC).
The Red Foxes out-shot Rider 17-10, including 6-1 in the first half. "I thought our work rate in the second half was good," Fager said.
Rider sophomore goalkeeper Matt Perrella (North Brunswick, N.J./N. Brunswick) made four saves. "I thought Matt played well," Fager said. "The goals that they scored, the first one he was screened on and the next two there was not much he could do with them. He made some big saves for us."
Marist defeated Rider 2-0 last year in Poughkeepsie. The last time Marist visited Lawrenceville Rider defeated Marist 2-1. The Broncs and Red Foxes have been conference rivals since Rider joined the Northeast Conference in 1992, and both teams joined the MAAC in 1997. Rider and Marist have now met 20 times since 1992 with Rider winning nine and there was one tie.
Rider will play its final home game Sunday at 3pm against Siena. Prior to the game graduating seniors Andrew Cotes, Jim Bradley and Alex Baker will be honored. "Senior day should be an interesting game." Fager said. "Siena is facing the same problem we are, injuries. We're coming into the game trying to get a point or three."
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