Field Hockey 9/4/2010 4:00:00 AM Rider Sports Information

Rider 5 Colgate 0

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College Field Hockey
Rider University 5, Colgate University 0

LAWRENCEVILLE—Freshman Sandra Penas (Barcelona, Spain) scored twice in her first collegiate game and added an assist with junior Virginia Egusquiza (Getxo, Spain) notching two assists as the Rider University field hockey team opened its new turf field with a 5-0 shutout over Colgate Saturday afternoon.

Penas, who had seven shots in the game, opened the scoring just five minutes in with a blast from the top of the goal off a pass from sophomore Marlaine Schneider (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy).

“I was happy to score twice in my first collegiate game,” Penas said. “The defense was really offensive minded and gave us great passes.”

“We were looking to come out with a lot of fire,” said Schneider who was the 2009 Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year last season. “It was the first home game and we wanted to come out with a lot of energy. A quick start was important.”

After diving to keep the ball from going out of bounds, Schneider again made a great pass, this time to junior Megan Pisani (Plainsboro/W. Windsor-Plainsboro North) who knocked in the rebound after her own shot was saved to give Rider (2-0) a 2-0 lead, nine minutes before the half.

“I like to pass and get everyone involved in the play,” Schneider added. “We have a very unselfish team and that's part of it. We do whatever it takes to get the ball in the net.”

“Marlaine made a nice play to Meg (Pisani) and I feel that was the turning point in the game,” said head coach Lori Hussong. “She is a fierce competitor who has an undying will to get the job done. Her teammates feed off her effort and it becomes contagious.”

Two minutes later, senior defender and penalty corner specialist Lindsay Rajeski (New Egypt) scored on a penalty corner with Penas and Egusquiza providing the helpers, increasing the Rider lead to 3-0. Rajeski, who has six career goals, also scored against Colgate last season.

“It is still the beginning of the season and we have a lot to work on,” Rajeski said about the shutout. “Our offense had some great pressure today and the defense held its own so that's a positive. The shutout is important. If Colgate would have scored, it would have given them that little spark of fire. Holding them off the scoreboard increases their frustration level and that allows us to control the game.”

Less than two minutes after that goal, Penas hit the back of the cage again, chipping in a shot by senior Margaret Ecke (New Egypt) and the Broncs led 4-0 at intermission.

Colgate (1-2) clamped down on Rider in the second half with the only Bronc goal at the final buzzer when freshman Shari Grinceri (Hammonton/St. Joseph's) tipped in an Egusquiza pass for the final score. Egusquiza leads Rider with four assists this season after handing out a Rider record 17 assists enroute to Northeast Conference Player of the Year honors in 2009.

Rider out-shot the Raiders 34-4, including two shots that hit the post. Colgate goalie Kristen Lalli made 21 saves.

“Colgate's goalie played extremely well,” Hussong said. “She came up with save after save.”

Freshman goalie Rachel Yacovett (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) and junior keeper Rebecca Lotito (Oceanport/Shore Regional) each played a half for the combined shutout. Each goalie made two saves for the Broncs.

“We've really keyed on that it is not the offensive play that will win you games but strong defense,” Hussong added. “We pride ourselves that we play solid defense and it is especially important this year with two relatively inexperienced goalies.”

Rider held a 19-2 penalty corner advantage.

Rider has now won seven of the 19 games all-time against Colgate, dating back to 1985 including two in a row. Last season, the Broncs defeated the Raiders 3-1 in Hamilton, New York.

“The field was great,” Rajeski said. “And so were the fans. They did a great job coming out and supporting us. It is a new environment and it is very exciting.”

“It was a fun atmosphere,” Hussong said. “It was great for our team to have a chance to play on campus, in front of more people, in this type of environment. It was a great game atmosphere.”

Winners of two straight, Rider travels to Pennsylvania on Monday to face the Quakers at 11:00am.

“I feel we have a tremendous amount of potential,” Hussong said. “We've mixed in some younger players and their play is going to be key for us. Our downfall last season is that we didn't have the depth we have this season. We scrimmaged Penn during the spring and they have a tough group of competitors. We are looking to correct a few mistakes that we made today and are looking to put together a good, solid 70 minute effort.”

-RU-

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Players Mentioned

#18 Margaret Ecke: M/F; 5' 2"; Freshman

#23 Lindsay Rajeski: M/B; 5' 7"; Freshman

#9 Virginia Egusquiza: M/F; 5' 4"; Freshman

#99 Rebecca Lotito: GK; 5' 11"; Freshman

#5 Megan Pisani: F; 5' 4"; Freshman

#2 Marlaine Schneider: F; 5' 6"; Freshman

Sandra Penas: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

#20 Shari Grinceri: B; 5' 4"; Freshman

#88 Rachel Yacovett: GK; 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#18 Margaret Ecke
: 5' 2"; Freshman
: M/F

#23 Lindsay Rajeski
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: M/B

#9 Virginia Egusquiza
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: M/F

#99 Rebecca Lotito
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: GK

#5 Megan Pisani
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: F

#2 Marlaine Schneider
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: F

Sandra Penas
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

#20 Shari Grinceri
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: B

#88 Rachel Yacovett
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: GK