College Field Hockey
Hofstra University 4 Rider University 3 (ot)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.--It took three days for Rider opponents in 2010 to do what took all season in 2009 to accomplish. Give the Broncs two losses. Hofstra University scored on a penalty stroke just over a minute into overtime to secure a 4-3, come from behind win over Rider University in a non-conference field hockey game Sunday afternoon.
"I'm very disappointed," said head coach Lori Hussong. "I'm really disappointed in the fact that we can't hold onto a two goal lead and then we couldn't hold onto the second lead. They (Hofstra) scored within seconds of the overtime starting and we never had a chance to touch the ball."
The Pride opened the extra period with two shots and were awarded a penalty stroke which was converted against junior goalie Rebecca Lotito (Oceanport/Shore Regional). Lotito was substituted to face the penalty stroke.
Rider freshman Sandra Penas (Barcelona, Spain) broke a 2-2 tie with 16 minutes left in regulation on a penalty corner with junior Holly Cuff (Washington/Warren Hills) picking up the assist. Penas, the Northeast Conference Player and Rookie of the Week last week, leads Rider with six goals.
Hofstra scored on a tip-in with eight minutes left in the second half, sending the game into overtime.
Rider (3-2) opened the game with four shots and three penalty corners in the first eight minutes of play with junior Megan Pisani (Plainsboro/W. Windsor Plainsboro-North) scoring her fifth goal of the season on a rebound at 8:33.
After a flurry of shots by Hofstra (3-3) were turned away, Bronc junior Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) scored her first of the season on a chip shot at the top of the circle just 4:24 before the half to give Rider a 2-0 lead at intermission.
"Virginia played outstanding," said Hussong. "She never quits and is the glue that keeps us together. She plays every play like it is her last and we need her teammates to rally off that. She does a lot of the work behind the scenes to make us successful and is not one for the spotlight. She is the ultimate team player."
The Pride scored 2:45 into the second half on a pass along the goalline and tied the game less than nine minutes later on a deflection during a penalty corner.
"We didn't show the intensity and passion that we needed when things got tough," Hussong added. "It was a positive that we
retook the lead but we didn't have the mentality to hold onto it and that cost us. We are going to have to learn from these last
two games."
Rider, which has lost two straight, both to Colonial Athletic Association teams, had a 1-0 lead at Delaware on September 9 before falling 2-1.
The Broncs last lost two in a row September 26 & 28, 2008 against Radford and Temple.
Rider out-shot Hofstra 16-14 (10-3 in the opening half) and held a 13-9 penalty corner advantage.
Freshman goalie Rachel Yacovett (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area) made seven saves for Rider.
Rider is 0-2 this season in one-goal games after going 6-1 in one-goal games in 2009. This was Rider's first overtime game of the season after going 4-1 in overtime last season.
"The difference from last season to this year is that in 2009, when things got tough, we got tougher and today, we didn't get tough enough," Hussong added.
This was Hofstra's ninth win in 19 games all-time against the Broncs. Last season, Egusquiza scored the only goal of the game in Rider's 1-0 win in Hempstead. In the 2008 season opener, Hofstra defeated the Broncs in overtime 2-1.
Rider travels to Philadelphia to face Saint Joseph's at Drexel's Buckley Field at 3:00pm on September 17.
"We have to rebound from this," said Hussong. "I hope the players learn from this. "We are going to have to come back strong
against Saint Joseph's."
-RU-
