Women's College Soccer
Rider University 2, Fairleigh Dickinson University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE- Lights, Camera, Victory.
In the first-ever outdoor night game on the Rider campus, the women's soccer team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson University in front of a festive Friday night crowd of close to 700.
"A win is a win, and that is always pleasing," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome.
Sophomore Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) had a goal and an assist to lead Rider to victory. "Abi looked dangerous on Wednesday and she continued it today," Hounsome said.
With the win, Rider extends its unbeaten streak to four games (2-0-2) since the season opening loss.
Rider (2-1-2) took a 1-0 lead when Cottam took a cross from sophomore Meghan Mohr (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem) and headed the ball in 6:34 into the second half. It was Cottam's fourth goal this week.
"Meg put in a good cross and Abi put in the diving header in the bottom corner. That was a really pleasing goal."
Cottam crossed the ball to freshman Jody Sokol (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) less than a minute later and Sokol scored her second collegiate goal. "Jody's goal pretty much killed the game," Hounsome said.
"It was amazing playing in front of this crowd," Sokol said. "The intensity was way up there. Abi scored and then she took a nice run down the side and crossed it. It deflected off a few people and even went through my legs. I turned around and shot it, far left post, right in the corner. I couldn't believe it. The crowd went nuts. It was great."
Rider senior goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made three saves for her eighth career shutout. "Alex did everything she needed to do," Hounsome said. "That's our third straight shutout."
Rider out-shot FDU (0-5) 24-7. "Without a few cross bars and posts it could have been five goals," Hounsome said.
The Broncs lost 3-0 to FDU last season at the Navy Tournament. Rider defeated FDU in 2008 in Hackensack and in 2000 in the only other meetings with the Knights.
Rider was 6-1 at home last year and is now 7-1-1 in its last nine home games. "We're playing well," Hounsome said.
"We get really pumped up to play at home," Post said. "We just have the attitude that 'no one comes to our field and beats us.' That is our mentality."
The first-ever night game at Rider drew a crowd of 690 fans, including several Rider soccer alums and most of the 355 Rider varsity athletes. Rider had 350 spectators last fall when it defeated Wagner 2-1 on a Code Cranberry, the previous record for attendance at a Rider women's soccer game.
"Great crowd," Hounsome said. "Great event (ribbon cutting ceremony) in terms of opening the turf field with the lights. Thanks to everyone who put it together and made this evening happen. And I thought the players lived up to the challenge. They entertained a big crowd."
"The crowd was great," Post said. "It was a really good atmosphere. We were a bit nervous in the first half, playing in front of a big crowd and the first night game."
The Broncs travel to Sacred Heart Sunday for their fourth game in eight days. "That's going to be a tough game," Hounsome said. "They've had some good wins. It will be a challenge but if we play like this and work hard there's a good chance we'll get the win."
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