Women's College Soccer
Mount St. Mary's University 1, Rider University 0 (ot)
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs began the 2011 season with an overtime loss to The Mount Saturday afternoon.
"It was like a preseason scrimmage only the result stands," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "The competitiveness was there and you can't replicate that in two weeks of preseason. We'll be significantly better when we play next."
The Mount's Sadie Winship took a direct kick from just outside the goal box with 49 seconds remaining in the first overtime period that just sneaked in the upper corner under the cross bar and over the outstretched hand of Rider goalkeeper junior Jenn Nichols (Stratham, N.H./Exeter).
Rider out-shot the Mount 26-17, including 14-8 in the second half and 2-1 in overtime. "To create 26 shots is good," Hounsome said. "You just want to convert them into the back of the net."
Rider sophomore Jennifer Meier (Sayville, NY/St. Anthony's) had eight of Rider's shots and four of Rider's 12 shots on goal. "Jen and (sophomore Bridgette) Bartkowski (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) looked good out there," Hounsome said. "They both had a good game. We have a dangerous front line with them and (sophomore Jody) Sokol (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem)."
The Broncs were playing without two of their top players, 2010 Second Team All-MAAC junior forward Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) and 2011 preseason All-MAAC sophomore back Becca Kape (Westfield, NJ/Westfield).
"Abi will probably be ready to go on in our next game," Hounsome said. "She's coming back from an injury and it is too early on in the season to send her out there at 85 percent."
Freshman Danielle Singson (Deer Park, NY/St. Anthony's) started in the Rider goal and made three saves. "I was a bit nervous, being my first game," Singson said. "I just wanted to make sure I played as fast as I could and get a first half shutout. It felt good to be on the field. It was tough watching last year but I fell I learned a lot." Singson, a biology major, red-shirted last season.
Nichols played 54 minutes and made four saves. "It's always hard when you give up a goal in overtime," said Nichols, who played in three Rider games last year and had a 3-3-1 record in 12 games as a rookie. "Give her (Winship) credit, she made a tough shot. Hopefully we'll get that one next time."
"Both 'keepers played very well," Hounsome said. "They both gave us 45 shutout minutes and that's about all you can ask. Jenn made a very good save in the second half, she just got beat on a great free kick."
Rider began last season with three double overtime games (0-1-2) and went on to win nine regular season games.
Rider is now 11-4-1 in its last 16 home games. "That's just the game," Hounsome said. "We played well enough to win it. Today was really about competing. We know we have good players. We have to compete with teams that play physical and we're right there."
Rider and The Mount tied in their first and only other meeting, in 1997, Rider's first year on the varsity level.
The Mount won two of the final three games of last season to finish 5-11-3 overall, 2-7-1 in the Northeast Conference.
The Broncs play their next five games on the road, traveling to Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia after a short trip to Fairleigh Dickinson August 23 for a 5pm contest. "You get one game out of your system and now we want to see a big improvement for Tuesday," Hounsome said. "We want to convert more chances and give up fewer opportunities. We'll tie things up at both ends of the field."
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