Women's College Soccer
Rider University 1, Wagner College 0
STATEN ISLAND, NY-The Broncs defeated Wagner Friday afternoon. "Last Sunday (loss to Sacred Heart) was a good learning experience for us on how to deal with a certain style of play," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome, "and today we dealt with it much, much better. It was a tense game."
Rider freshman Jody Sokol (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) scored in the 12th minute of the game to give Rider a 1-0 lead. It was Sokol's third goal of the season.
"Jody scored a lovely goal," Hounsome said. "She ripped it with her left foot. A quality finish. She is an exciting player who can score with either foot. She has a huge amount of potential, very talented."
Sokol scored after a crossing pass from sophomore Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow). "Abi played the ball right to her," Hounsome said.
"Abi controlled it nicely in the center of the field," Sokol remembered, "and as I was making a run she split the two defenders. She sent it right through to me. I hit it with my left foot and it went in top left corner."
A right-hander, or, right-footer, Sokol now has two left-footed goals this year. "I can go both feet," Sokol said. "It doesn't really matter."
Rider senior goalkeeper Alex Post (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) made five saves for her third shutout of the season and the ninth of her career. "Alex had a very good performance," Hounsome said. "She was under some pressure but she controlled the defense and when she had to make a big save she did, including one in the last 40 seconds that could have easily gone in. She was very deserving of the shutout."
The Broncs out-shot Wagner 15-12, including 7-4 in the first half. "We had some good chances," Hounsome said. " We had another goal that the refs said wasn't in."
The win was Rider's second over Wagner in five meetings, after winning 2-1 last year in Lawrenceville.
"Kaitlin (sophomore Kaitlin Wylie of Croydon, Pa./Pennsbury) did a good job for us in the center midfield," Hounsome said, "winning a lot of the balls that we haven't been winning. She had a solid performance."
Rider had nine shots on goal, compared to five for Wagner.
"We won all the balls we needed to win," Hounsome said. "We did a great job of winning headers, 50-50 balls. That kind of subdued their style a bit."
Wagner (4-4) entered the game having won three of its last four games and was 2-0 at home this year. "This was a good win," Hounsome said. "To come up here and play on their field is a good win for us."
Rider (3-2-2) hosts NJIT Tuesday afternoon. "That was a game we lost last year," Hounsome said, "so this year we want to set the record straight."
"I love home games," Sokol said, "so I can't wait."
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