College Field Hockey
Saint Joseph's University 2, Rider University 1
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.-Saint Joseph's senior Nicole McCreight broke a 1-1 tie on a penalty corner with 4:08 left in the game, scoring her second goal of the day and seventh of the season, to defeat Rider University in a non-conference field hockey game Friday afternoon at Drexel's Buckley Field.
"I don't think we've played any poorer than we did today so far this season," said a disappointed head coach Lori Hussong. "We are not playing with any unity or any cohesiveness and it really shows. Saint Joseph's really took advantage of that today."
Trailing 1-0 with 5:32 left in the second half, junior Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) took a loose ball off a penalty corner and scored her second goal of the season, with sophomore Amber Evans (Brentwood, N.H./Exeter) assisting to tie the game. Egusquiza, the 2009 Northeast Conference Player and 2008 NEC Rookie of the Year is now 12th on Rider's all-time scoring list with 66 points (19 goals, 28 assists).
Saint Joseph's broke a scoreless tie eight minutes into the second half on a penalty corner with McCreight hitting the back of the cage.
The teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half with Rider (3-3) holding an 11-2 shot advantage in the half.
Rider out-shot the Hawks 22-7 and held a 12-9 penalty corner advantage.
"We played well enough to still win the game," Hussong said. "We didn't score and out-shooting a team by 15 shots, the score and outcome of the game should have been a little different."
Freshman Rachel Yacovett (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area) made four saves for Rider. Senior Kelly Swanick made 12 saves for Saint Joseph's including three straight in the final minute of play.
Saint Joseph's has won eight of the 15 games all-time against Rider (three ties) since the series began in 1981. The teams last met in 1994 with the Hawks winning 2-0.
After only losing twice in 2009, Rider has now lost three straight for the first time since the start of the 2008 season. All three of Rider's losses this season have been by one goal, including an overtime loss at Hofstra.
Rider travels to Worchester, Massachusetts to take on Holy Cross in a non-conference game on Sunday at 1:00pm.
"We are going to have to bounce back, rebound and do the best job that we can against Holy Cross," said Hussong.
-RU-
