Women's College Soccer
Rider University 1, Iona College 1 (2ot)
NEW ROCHELLE, NY-The Broncs tied Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Friday. "Iona made it very hard for us to play our game," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "They played a good game. For us, anytime you are on the road and get any kind of (positive) result is okay."
Junior Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) scored 7:43 into the second half on an assist from sophomore Bridgette Bartkowski (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) to give Rider a 1-0 lead. "It was a nice combination play," Hounsome said. "Abi and 'Gette played a nice give-and-go. Abi made a nice pass and 'Gette gave it back to her and Abi scored a quality goal."
The MAAC leader in goals (14), assists (10) and points (38), Cottam ranks sixth in the nation in points per game, eighth in assists per game and ninth in goals.
The assist by Bartkowski was her sixth of the season and the 11th of her career.
Iona (4-9-3, 3-2-1 MAAC) tied the score at 1-1 with just 1:53 left to play in regulation on a free kick following a Rider foul. "It is disappointing to give up a goal with two minutes left," Hounsome said. "Whether it was a foul or not is still very questionable, but the girl made a great free kick from about 25 yards out into the top corner."
Iona out-shot Rider (9-4-4, 2-2-2 MAAC) 16-9 but Rider had seven shots on goal to Iona's six.
Friday's game marked the sixth time Rider has played overtime this season, including the second tie in a row.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Danielle Singson (Deer Park, NY/St. Anthony's) made five saves. "Danielle played good," Hounsome said. "She made a big save with about two minutes left which kept the game tied. She did fine."
The Broncs defeated Iona 2-0 in Lawrenceville last season, breaking a streak of three straight losses to the Gaels.
Rider lost 1-0 the last time the Broncs traveled to New Rochelle. The two teams have now met 15 times, with Rider holding an 8-5-2 advantage in the series that began in 1997.
Rider travels to Fairfield Sunday for a 1pm MAAC game before hosting Saint Peter's and Manhattan the final weekend of the regular season, October 28-30. "We need to win out our last three games and we'll be in a good position (to make the four-team MAAC tournament).
-ru-
