College Field Hockey
Rider University 2, Villanova University 1 (ot)
LAWRENCEVILLE--When you have waited since 1993 to defeat a team, what is another six minutes.
Sophomore Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) broke a 1-1 tie with her fifth goal of the season, 6:08 into the first overtime period as the Rider University field hockey team won its fourth straight game, defeating Villanova on Wednesday in Lawrenceville.
"This was a hard fought game," said head coach Lori Hussong who saw her team pickup three green cards and two yellows. "We may have led in shots but Villanova kept constant pressure on us all day long. We hung tough together when the chips were down for us."
Junior Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) set up Schneider for the goal on a penalty corner. Egusquiza, the Northeast Conference Player of the Week for all games this past week, leads Rider with 11 assists.
"As soon as I got the ball, I just wound up and knew it would be a rocket," Schneider remembered. "I just drilled it as hard as I could."
"Marlaine has worked hard all year and hasn't really cashed in on a lot of goals and the so called glory," said Hussong. "But she was going to have her day sometime during the season and I'm glad it was today."
Trailing 1-0, Villanova (3-7) tied the game with 3:33 left in regulation on a penalty corner with the Broncs a player down due to a yellow card.
"When there was about five minutes, we kind of thought that we had this and when Villanova scored, we were like, now we really have to pick it up," said Schneider about the teams' reaction to 'Nova tying the game late.
Schneider got the Broncs on the board with an unassisted tally, scoring off a loose ball 21:39 into the game. Schneider had five shots on the day.
"We came out really strong in the first half," Schneider said.
Junior Rebecca Lotito (Oceanport/Shore Regional) won her fourth straight game for Rider (7-3), allowing only the one goal. Lotito made four saves.
"It was a good game for Rebecca that she did face some shots and was under some pressure the entire game," Hussong said. "There were a lot of times that she came up big for us and that is only going to make her better for conference play."
Megan Goelz made five saves for Villanova.
Rider out-shot the Wildcats 15-7, 2-0 in the overtime period and the Broncs held an 18-9 penalty corner advantage. The Broncs entered play leading the nation, averaging 12.67 penalty corners per game and had two penalty corners in the overtime, including one that setup the game-winning play.
Rider improves to 3-0 on its new turf field and the Broncs are now 1-1 in overtime this season.
"We have to win on our home turf," said Schneider. "We have the attitude that no one is coming here and beating us."
Rider and 'Nova have now met 13 times since the series began in 1981 with the Broncs winning six (one tie). In 2008, Villanova won at the end of regulation (1-0) on a penalty corner. The Wildcats had defeated Rider three straight times entering play. This is Rider's first win over Villanova since 1993 when the Broncs won 1-0, also in overtime.
Rider opens NEC play at Robert Morris on October 10.
"We are starting to feel comfortable heading into conference play," Schneider said. "We had a little bit of a lull (three game losing streak) but we've brought this back up (four straight wins) and I'm really excited that we start conference play next week."
"Conference play is going to be pressure filled, just like today was," Hussong said. "We scheduled Villanova and Temple and some of the other teams to simulate how conference play is going to be. At anytime in the NEC, anyone can knock you off and you have to be prepared. I'm hoping the past 10 games have given us the experience that we need to get the job done."
Rider Field Hockey getting the job done, even if it means working a little overtime to do it.
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