Women's College Soccer
Rider University 3, Bryant University 0
Meier Scores Hat Trick
SMITHFIELD, RI- In sports, in life and in hurricanes, what goes around, comes around.
Rider out-shot its first two opponents 51-23 this season and had only a scoreless tie and a loss to show for it. On Friday, the Broncs were out-shot 25-9 but came home with their first win of the season.
Sophomore Jennifer Meier scored three goals to lead Rider to victory at Bryant Friday afternoon. "I think I only had one (hat trick) in high school," said Meier, an All-New York player in high school after leading her team to the State Championship.
Meier (Sayville, NY/St. Anthony's), who now has nine career goals in just 22 games, gave Rider a 1-0 lead 25:13 into the game with a left-footed shot after a pass from junior Kaitlin Wylie (Croydon, Pa./Pennsbury).
"I had a great pass from Wylie and I was looking to cross it but the defender was blocking it," said Meier, a MAAC All-Rookie team selection last year. "So I cut it back and shot with my left foot and got it in the upper post."
That was the first goal of the season for the Broncs. "Finally, we broke the ice," Meier said.
"The box score made it seem one-sided but that was not the case," said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "I felt we controlled the play."
Rider (1-1-1) led 1-0 at the half despite being out-shot 13-5.
The 5'3" Meier gave Rider a 2-0 lead at the 53:59 mark after receiving a pass from junior Kate Stevens (Deddington, England/Chenderit). Meier scored with her right foot this time from the 18. "The goalie came far out so I shot it quickly to beat her because she was so far out," Meier said."Kate did a great job winning the ball and getting it to me."
Less than two minutes later Meier made it 3-0 on a rebound after a shot by junior Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) was saved. "Abi won the ball off a corner and fed me," Meier said. "With just one defender I played it back to her and she got off a great shot that the goalie saved. I was right there and able to push it back in."
"Once we had a 3-0 lead we were playing people out of position and Bryant had quite a few chances in the last 15 minutes or so," Hounsome said.
The 'hat trick' was just the sixth in the 14-year Rider team history. No Bronc has ever scored four goals in a game. "Rider women's hat tricks are rare," Hounsome said.
Rider freshman goalkeeper Danielle Singson (Deer Park, NY/St. Anthony's) made four saves in the first half and junior Jenn Nichols (Stratham, N.H./Exeter) compiled seven saves in the second half to share the shutout.
"Both of our goalkeepers did what they had to do," Hounsome said.
Bryant (0-1-1) goalkeeper Kelsi Jacob made three saves.
This was the first-ever meeting between Rider and Bryant in women's soccer. Rider and Bryant are Northeast Conference foes in field hockey.
Rider was scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. to take on Howard University Sunday evening but the game was postponed due to the hurricane.
-ru-
