Women's College Soccer
Loyola University Maryland 3, Rider University 0
BALTIMORE, MD-The Broncs suffered their first loss in almost a month, losing to Loyola in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon. "It doesn't feel good," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "It wasn't our best performance."
Loyola out-shot Rider (7-3-2, 0-1 MAAC) 10-8, including 5-4 in shots on goal. "They took their opportunities and made the most of them and we didn't" Hounsome said. "Other than that it was a close game."
Loyola (3-8, 1-0 MAAC) scored in the 40th minute of play and led 1-0 at the half.
"I thought we had the better of the first half but they scored just before half time," Hounsome said. "It was a close game."
The Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead just 1:14 into the second half off of a corner kick, and went up 3-0 in the 67th minute of play.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Danielle Singson (Deer Park, NY/St. Anthony's) played the first half and made two saves while allowing one goal. Junior Jenn Nichols (Stratham, N.H./Exeter) played the second half.
Loyola has played three Top 25 teams this year, #6 Maryland, #18 Wake Forest and #25 Virginia Tech.
The Greyhounds have the most MAAC Titles (nine) and the most MAAC Tournament appearances (16) among all of the teams in the conference.
"Loyola is always a very good team," Hounsome said, "a big squad with good players, talented players. They have always been good and always will be. We were okay. We played okay. We were a little bit nervous, playing almost like we were a little intimated to be playing at Loyola. We weren't loose."
Rider defeated Loyola for the first time ever last year in the regular season finale. The Greyhounds hold a 17-1-2 advantage in the series, which includes four wins in postseason and a tie in the MAAC semifinals with Loyola advancing on penalty kicks.
The Greyhounds recently lost 1-0 at La Salle while the Broncs lost 4-0 at La Salle. This was Rider's first lost since that game, September 4.
Loyola will host the four-team MAAC Championship Tournament November 4-6.
The Broncs make the trip to Western New York next weekend, taking on Niagara Friday night and Canisius next Sunday afternoon in a pair of MAAC games.
-ru-
